d ... and found a few small fragments of
human bones, two small stone axes and portions of another jaguar's
skeleton and some dog's teeth, showing that the interment of animals was
not a matter of chance."

If we add this to the accumulation of evidence I have presented, showing
that in Mexico and Yucatan the ocelot was associated with the north, the
color red, the underworld, the nocturnal cult and with bearded priests, we
must admit that there is hope that, some day, we may be as familiar with
the life and customs of the ancient Americans as we are now with those of
the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.

Strange animal effigies in stone have been found at Quirigua: one (B)
somewhat resembles a dragon and exhibits complex glyphs; another (G) has
been named an armadillo and has 2x8=16 glyphs carved on its lower and
2x20=40 on its upper sides.

A circular slab deserves special mention: in its centre is a seated
figure. Forming a band around the edge, to the right of the figure are 6
glyphs and 6 others are to his left=12 in all. Above him to his left are 5
and to his left are 3 glyphs. This peculiar distribution of 20 glyphs is
of peculiar interest.

The crowning glory of Quirigua, however, is the gigantic block of stone,
completely covered with intricate carvings and glyphs, which is known as
the "Great Turtle," and of which splendid casts, made from Mr. Maudslay's
moulds, are now exhibited in the South Kensington Museum, London, and in
the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Of the many features of
this remarkable monument, which can be studied in Mr. Maudslay's
forthcoming part XI of the Biologia Centrali-Americana, the seated figure,
occupying a prominent place and obviously representing the central ruler,
deserves special mention. In his right hand he holds a peculiar sceptre
similar to that held by the personage on Stela E. His left hand is
concealed under a carved face, a detail which recalls the Santa Lucia
bas-reliefs.

Palenque and its group of sister cities now claim our notice. Of the
latter Men-che particularly arrests our attention on account of its name,
the second part of which means tree and by extension, tribe. The word
_men_ is of particular interest, for it is not only the name of a dog in
the Maya Calendar but signifies precisely the same as the Mexican word
toltecatl, namely, master-builder, artificer or artisan, an adept in
manufacture. The habitual form of employing the word wou