Cusliing.] 6J± l^j^-oy, G, 



I would once more call attention to the association in qrovps or sets, of 

 the animal figureheads and especially of the masks, as affording still fur- 

 ther proof of similarity, if not identity, in key-dweller art and mound - 

 builder art, and as thus affording also a satisfactory explanation of cer- 

 tain points observable in delineations I have so often heretofore referred 

 to as occurring upon the shell gorgets and copper-plates of the ancient 

 mounds of Georgia and other Southern States. Almost always, in these 

 delineations of the mythic human figure, it may be observed that while 

 upon the face, a mask is plainly portrayed, yet, in one or other of the 

 hands is as distinctly represented another mask — not a head, as has fre- 

 quently been supposed, — and I am therefore inclined to believe that, as 

 with the key dwellers, so with these peoples of the mounds, dramas 

 representative of the transformation of gods from animal into human 

 form, and from one human character into another human character, 

 were probably attempted in their sacred dances. 



Such a figure of the mound plates as I have described is shoM'n in No. 

 3, PL XXXV, of the accompanying illustrations. It is drawn from one 

 of the celebrated copper-plates of the " Etowah Mound '' of Georgia, 

 and I have reproduced it here (from one of Prof William H. Holme's 

 superb drawings) not only to illustrate this statement regarding the 

 probable ceremonology of duplicated masks in both cases, but also to 

 illustrate various other points of close similarity between the art remains 

 of the two peoples. The so-called baton, held in the right hand of the 

 figure in this plate, may be seen to correspond veiy closel}^ to the 

 war-club which we discovered in the court of the pile dwellers, and 

 which is outlined in front thereof ("a," of the same figure). It may be 

 seen, too, that the winged god here portrayed wears not only a beaked 

 mask, but also a necklace of oval beads, and an elongated pendant 

 depending therefrom, like those we so frequently found ; an ear button, 

 also exactly like those we found (shown in "d" of the same figure) : 

 that around the wrists, arms and legs of this primitive portrait are rep- 

 resented reticulate or plaited bands, as around the wrists and legs of 

 tlie figure painted in the sacred shell I have described ("b " and "c ") ; 

 and that finally, this character bears in his left hand a mask, the face 

 lines and ear plug of which as closely resemble those that we actually 

 found (as shown in "e " and "f " of the figure) in the court of the pile 

 dwellers. 



General Conclusions. 



In reference to the general significance of tliese observations and 

 finds in southwestern Florida, I must necessarily be brief since this 

 paper has already reached a length that was not, when I began, con- 

 templated. 



As to the origin of the key-dAveller phase of existence, it was, I think, 

 so much infiuenccd bv certain coastal conditions, that a few words on 



