serious consideration.
The symbol would be just as complete so far as its signification is
concerned without the eye as with it.

THE SIXTEENTH DAY

Maya, _cib_; Tzental, _chabin_; Quiche-Cakchiquel, _ahmak_; Zapotec,
_guilloo_ or _loo_; Nahuatl, _cozcaquauhtli_. In addition to these the
following are also given: Pipil, _tecolotl_; Meztitlan, _teotl itonal_
or _temetlatl_.

The forms of this symbol shown in plates LXVI, 56 to 59, and LXVII, 1 to
3, are those usually found in the codices, the slight differences being
due to the greater or less degree of perfection with which they have
been made. Landa's figure is similar to LXVII, 1. The variants in LXVII,
4 and 5, are from Dres. 46 and 49; but the symbols found in the day
columns of Dres. 46 to 50 must not be taken as evidence of peculiar
types, as they are to a large extent dashed off without care, one or two
of a column being sufficiently exact for determination and the rest mere
blotches. I have referred to them here and under other days simply
because Dr Seler has noticed them; hence had I failed to allude to them
it might be thought an oversight. However, I do not think any of the
variations in the day columns of these five plates should be taken into
consideration as types.

The Nahuatl name _cozcaquauhtli_ is the "royal zopilote" (_Sarcoramphus
papa_ of ornithologists). Drs Seler and Brinton agree in the supposition
that the Zapotec name is derived from _balloo_, "the raven or crow." Dr
Seler says that the Quiche-Cakchiquel word _ahmak_ seems to signify the
vulture, "who pecks out the eyes," "who makes deep holes;" while Dr
Brinton maintains that the Quiche _ahmak_ means "the master of evil,"
referring to the owl, which is esteemed a bird of evil omen and bad
fortune. The Pipil _tecolotl_ also denotes "the night bird or owl."

[Illustration: PL. LXVII COPIES OF GLYPHS FROM THE CODICES]

The Maya and Tzental names, however, present a difficulty not so easily
explained. The signification of the former is "wax, gum, or copal gum,"
and also, according to Henderson, "root." According to Brinton the
Tzental radical _chab_ means "honey, was, bee, a late meal." He refers,
however, to the Cakchiquel, where he finds that _ch'ab_ means "mud,
clay, mire," and suggests that "as red and black clays were the
primitive pigments this may connect the Tzental day name with the Maya."
Seler, however, derives the Maya name from _ci_ or _cii_, "to taste
good," "to smell good