vious how this metaphor came to be employed. The words for
tail and wing respectively terminate with pilli the word designating
nobleman, the upper class, and palli, signifying the lower class, women,
boys, servants. The head of the bird signified the chief and the two eyes
and two halves of the beak conveyed the idea of duality, or two in one.
There are indications that the right foot, with its four claws, symbolized
the four chief rulers of the Above and the left foot the four rulers of
the Below.

The control of the feet and entire body was, of course, assigned to the
head. It is only when the full metaphorical significance of the eagle, as
an emblem of the state, is understood, that the meaning of the eagle in
the arms of Mexico and the native bird symbolism begin to become apparent.
I have shown that in Peru and Yucatan the word for head was synonymous for
chief. It remains to be ascertained how far the same symbolism prevailed
throughout the American Continent and whether in other cases the words for
bird, wings, tail and claws are homonymous or synonymous for the state and
its divisions. Amongst the Zunis the State and entire scheme of
organization is associated with the imaginary form of a quadruped and in
Mexico there are indications that at one time the human form was regarded
as an emblem of the State and its subdivisions. This subject is referred
to more fully in the text.

QUECHUA. NAHUATL. MAYA.
Uira-cocha=name In the native
of mythical harangues the
personage and Supreme Being
title of is referred to
Creator. as being like
an unfathomable
abyss.
ixachicatlan=abyss.
ixachi=great,
much.
cochca=coch-allpa=fallow cochi=to sleep. cuchil=place or
land, "tierra tlacochcalli= town.
de descanso": literally house of ah-cuch-cab=the
literally, land rest, burial chief or ruler
that is towers. of a town or
resting. place.
collana= excellent,
principal, sovereign,
first and best of each
species.
collanan ayllu=royal coyauac=something
line, name used by the broad, like a
Inc