section, while others are quadrangular. They were hafted by being simply thrust into a wooden handle, as shown in Fig. 4, _f_; p. 35. The finest specimens are made of some kind of jadeite, and are often beautifully polished, especially those from the Mixtec country. In the Tarascan country, and northward to La Quemada in Zacatecas, are found types closely akin to those of Arizona and California, viz. heavy axes, coarsely ground, with one or two grooves partially or entirely encircling the butt (Fig. 20, 4, 7 and 8). These must have been attached to the haft by thongs, or a stout twig must have been bent round the implement and secured by a lashing below. Such forms as these are not found in the Mexican valley or further south, until Ecuador is reached, but are in reality characteristic of the northern portion of the continent. In the same area are found peculiar blades in animal form, as shown in Fig. 20, 5. Great masses of stone were handled with considerable facility, and it is only necessary to call attention to the objects shown in Pls. III and VI-VIII, as evidence of the skill of the Mexico mason. The large coping-stone with a figure of a fire-snake in high relief illustrated on Pl. V, 2, being an especially fine specimen from a technical point of view. [Illustration: FIG. 20.--Stone axe-blades. 1. Etla, Oaxaca. 2, 3, 6. Valley of Mexico. 4, 5, 7, 8. Michoacan (Tarascan.) (_British Museum_)] To speak generally, Aztec sculpture often shows a slight stiffness in style, due in part to its conventional nature, but many specimens exist which exhibit considerable freedom of treatment, notably the figure of Xochipilli on Pl. V, 1 (of which the characteristic crest rising from the head-dress is unfortunately missing), and the magnificent rattle-snake on Pl. XI, A. Characteristic of the stone art of Tulan are caryatid figures (similar to Fig. 84, p. 348) and serpent columns, both of which will be met again when we come to consider the art of Yucatan; and related to the same culture are figures representing a reclining god, probably one of the octli-gods, holding a vase. One of these, of colossal proportions, has also been found in Yucatan. This type of statue seems to have been copied in Aztec times, and the specimen on Pl. VIII, 2, probably belongs to this later period. Caryatid figures are also found in Tlaxcala. A particular class of sculpture is constituted by the peculiar stone figures found in the Panuco valley, of which a fine series may be seen in the British Museum (Pl. X, 1). These are distinguished by the pointed head-dress associated with the Huaxtec, sometimes combined with the jaws of a monster, or a semicircular crest with engraved snake-design. Most are otherwise nude, and all exhibit a somewhat crude and archaic character. Belonging to the Totonac culture are certain enigmatical stone objects, beautifully carved, of which the principal are the