MAYA ART 41 
Besides the table case containing the eggs (often with the nest) of 
species known to nest within fifty miles of the City, there are down the 
middle of the room a series of groups of local breeding birds with their 
nests. These, the forerunners of our “‘ Habitat Groups,’ were the first 
of their kind made for the Museum. 
At the head of the stairs, on one side is a map of the country within 
fifty miles; on the other, exhibits which explain what is meant by a 
subspecies, and through what changes of plumage a bird passes from the 
time of hatching. 
At the other end of the room, between the windows, is a bust of John 
- Burroughs, by C. 8. Pietro. 
SOUTHWEST WING 
ANTIQUITIES OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
Continuing west past the collection of local birds we enter the south- 
west wing, devoted to the ancient civilizations of Mexico 
and Central America. As the hall is approached casts 
of large upright stones appear completely covered by sculpture. These 
stones, called stelae, are found chiefly near Copan in Honduras and 
represent the highest art of the Maya civilization. 
At the left of the entrance on the south side of the hall is the exten- 
sive exhibit from Costa Rica of Mr. Minor Keith. This includes 
stone sculpture and a great variety of pottery interesting in form and 
design. To this collection also belongs the gold and jade from Costa 
Rica arranged in the cases in the center of the hall. See page 44. 
On the south wall is a copy of the painted sculptures of the Temple of 
the Jaguars at Chichen Itza. Here are shown warriors in procession who 
seem to be coming to worship a serpent god. Prayers are represented 
as coming from their lips. This sculpture, while Maya, shows strong 
existence of Mexican influence in certain of its details. 
In the table cases on this side of the hall are facsimile reproductions 
of native books or codices, which were painted free hand on strips of 
deerskin, paper or cloth. Several original documents are also exhibited. 
The Spaniards, in their zeal to destroy the native religion, burned 
hundreds of these books, which recorded ceremonial rites and historical 
events by means of pictures and hieroglyphs. 
Nearby is a replica of the Calendar Stone, which is a graphic repre- 
sentation of the four creations and destructions of the world, as well as a 
symbol of the sun and a record of the divisions of the year. 
Maya Art 

