_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.] _Cħom_, _Xchom_, or _Hcħom_. 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 certain class of food animals seems to be assigned to each. The four following symbols are those used to express this idea: [Illustration: No. 29.] _Ceh_? The symbol for game quadrupeds. The same idea appears to be indicated by the folded and tied quarter of a deer, as shown in No. 11. The head shown in the symbol is probably intended for that of the deer, though more like that of the rabbit. [Illustration: No. 30.] _Cutz_ or _Cax_. The symbol for game birds, the head being probably that of the wild turkey (_Cutz_ or _Ahcutz_). [Illustration: No. 31.] _Huh._ The symbol for food reptiles or the iguana. As the Kan figure is admitted to be a maize or bread symbol, it is readily seen that the object in view in connecting it with the animal figures is to indicate that they are used for food, and hence are proper offerings to the gods, which is equivalent to saying, to the priests. [Illustration: No. 32.] _Cay._ The symbol for food fishes, or fishes in general, though as often on the Kan symbol or without any suffix. [Illustration: No. 33.] _Cutz_ or _Cax_. In one of the two series of these food symbols, in Plates 29-31 of the Dresden Codex, in place of the bird symbol No. 30 is that shown in symbol No. 33. It probably has, as Rosny supposes, the same signification, a supposition which is strengthened by the fact that it is found in the bird series on Plates 16_c_ and 17_c_, same codex, and is represented by _o_ in the preceding diagram. SYMBOLS OF DEITIES. [Illustration: No. 34.] _Ekchuah._ The symbol or hieroglyph of the deity named "Ekchuah" by the Mayas and considered the patron and protector of peddlers or traveling merchants (Fig. 380). [Illustration: FIG. 380. The god Ekchuah, after the Troano and Cortesian Codices.]