h group,
is another bird's head. From these facts we conclude that the first
symbol in each of these groups denotes a bird, and, as no two are alike,
that they refer to different species, the one at _g_ corresponding with
symbol No. 24, the bird beneath being the great parrot or ara. Other
facts, derived from a careful study of the various groups of this portion
of the codex, which would require much space and numerous illustrations
to explain, lead to the same belief.

According to this conclusion, the following symbols also denote birds,
probably of the species here indicated.

[Illustration: No. 25.]

_Icim_? The horned owl. This is represented by _a_ in the first group
in the above diagram.

The bird in the figure under the group, although horned, bears but slight
resemblance to an owl; yet, comparing the marks on the tail with those of
two of the birds on Plate XVIII* of the Manuscript Troano, I think the
interpretation is justified.

[Illustration: No. 26.]

_Kukuitz_? The Quetzal. The symbol is apparently incomplete, but the
bird figured under it justifies this conclusion. This symbol is
represented by _e_ in the above diagram.

If this interpretation be correct, we find in this symbol another of
Landa's letters.

[Illustration: No. 27. _a_ _b_]

_Kuch._ A vulture or bird of prey much like the sopilote. These two
symbols (_a_ and _b_) appear to refer to the same bird, evidently a
vulture. (See Manuscript Troano, Plates XVII_a_ and XXVI*_a_.) The
first form (_a_) is found but once (Manuscript Troano, Plate
XVII_a_), the other at several points, both in the Manuscript Troano
and the Dresden Codex, and is represented by _m_ in the preceding
diagram.

If this determination be correct, the first of these symbols (_a_) is
probably phonetic and agrees with the interpretation of No. 26.

[Illustration: No. 28.]

_C[=h]om_, _Xchom_, or _Hc[=h]om_. The sopilote or vulture. Found only
in Plates 16 and 17, Dresden Codex. The bird figure in Plate 17
appears to be intended to represent a vulture. The symbol
corresponds to _i_ in the preceding diagram.

If phonetic, the word indicated should, according to Landa's alphabet, be
aspirated, which is found to be true of one of the forms given by Perez.

In certain series of the Dresden Codex, which appear to relate to the
four year series or to the four seasons, especially those on Plates
29-31, a