s in
symbol 28 of the same plate, which is the usual form in the Dresden
Codex. A variation of this is seen at 29, which seems to have given rise
to the unusual form shown in 31. A radical variation is that given at
27. The symbol of the Death god, 26 and 30, is sometimes, though rarely,
substituted as the symbol of this day. The closed or dead eye and
prominent teeth, as seen in the usual forms, show very clearly that the
symbol is simply a conventional representation of the naked skull. The
form shown at 27, however, is more difficult to account for; reference
to it will be made farther on.

The Maya, Quiche Cakchiquel,[TN-2] and Nahuatl terms signify "death." The
Tzental name _tox_, however, presents a difficulty not readily overcome
in order to bring its signification into harmony with that of the
others. Dr Seler does not attempt an explanation in his paper on the
meaning of the day names, and in his subsequent article fails to reach
any settled conclusion. Dr Brinton thinks it means something (as a human
head) separated, sundered, cut off; "hence _tox-oghbil_, the ax or
hatchet; _q-tox_, to split, divide, cut off." In this, he holds, it
agrees precisely with the Zapotec _lana_, which, he says, the Zapotec
vocabulary renders "a separated thing, like a single syllable, word, or
letter." Dr Seler's interpretation of the Zapotec name is wholly
different, as he says that the most natural of the various
significations given is, in his opinion, "hare;" _pela-pillaana_,
"liebre animal;" _too-quixe-pillaana_, or _pella-pillaana_, "red para
liebres." I observe, however, that in Fuller's vocabulary _gu-lana_ is
"to steal." Other significations are "name," "flesh," "secretly," etc.
The proper interpretation of the Zapotec name therefore appears to be
very doubtful. In Cordova's vocabulary, as given by Ternaux-Compans,
"fleche" is given as the meaning of _quii-lana_. In Tzotzil _gtox_
signifies "to split, break off, break open, to chop." In Maya we have
_tok_; which, as a substantive, Perez explains by "pedernal, la
sangria;" as a verb it signifies "to bleed, let blood." In this dialect
_tox_ denotes "to drain, draw off liquor, spill, shed."

The usual form of the Mexican symbol for this day is shown in plate LXV,
32. It is also a naked skull.

Like Dr Seler, I am compelled to admit that I can give no satisfactory
suggestion as to the origin of the form shown in plate LXV, 27.
According to Colonel Mallery,[232-1] one sign a