In Tro. 11*d is the character shown in plate LXIV, 52. As the right portion is the upper part of the symbol for _chikin_, "west" (see plate LXIV, 53), its phonetic value may be a derivative of _kuch_, _kuchnahi_, _kuchah_, "to spin, to draw out into threads." Henderson gives _chuch_ as an equivalent. As the subfix in plate LXIV, 48, is the character I have usually interpreted by _u_, this would give us some of the elements of the name _Kukulcan_ and not _Itzamna_, as Seler and Schellhas suppose. Possibly, however, the deity represented may be _Baklum-Chaam_, the god adored at Ti-ho and usually considered, though without apparent justification, as the Maya Priapus.
The somewhat similar character, plate LXIV, 55, from Tro. 18*c, which Dr Seler considers synonymous, is probably essentially distinct, as it bears a somewhat stronger resemblance to the _chuen_ than to the _akbal_ symbol. In character 54, plate LXIV, from Dres. 17b, which denotes the vulture or rapacious bird figured below the text, it probably indicates the _c_ sound, as the most reasonable interpretation of the symbol is _hchom_, "the sopilote" (Perez), or _hchuy_, "a hawk or eagle." If the character shown in plate LXIV, 54, is intended to indicate the bird figured below, and is neither of those mentioned, it is probably one the name of which begins with _ch_.
The symbol of the month _Zo[c]_ (_Tsoz_ or _Zotz_) also contains this supposed _akbal_ glyph, but in the varied form last above mentioned, which, as we have said, bears a strong resemblance to the _chuen_ symbol. This, as will be seen by comparing, bears a very close resemblance to glyph LXIV, 54. If phonetic, we must assume that the _ch_ (if the interpretation of the former be correct) has been hardened to _z_ or _tz_.[225-1]
The same character is also found in the symbol for the month _Xul_ (see plate LXIV, 56, from Dres. 49c). As Dr Seler refuses to accept the theory that the characters are either phonetic or ikonomatic, he concludes, in the following words, that resemblance in the forms of the symbols indicates relationship in the subject-matter:
_Xul_ signifies the end, the point; _xuulul_, to end; _xulah_, _xulezah_, to bring to an end; _xulub_ (that with, which anything ends), horns, or he who has horns, the devil; _xulbil_, jests, tricks, deviltry. We see, therefore, that this word contains doubtless a reference to something unholy, uncanny, demoniac. To the Central Americans the bat was not merely a nocturnal animal. The Popol-Vuh speaks of a Zo'tzi-ha, "bat house," one of the five regions of the underworld. There dwells the Cama-zo'tz, "the death-bat," the great beast that brings death to all who approach it, and also bites off the head of Hunapu.