S C U 17 P r U RE s 



251 



Figs. 151 and 152, are front and profile views of a relic found in Belmont county, 

 Ohio, nearly opposite Wheeling, on the Ohio river. The original is six inches 





length. It is composed of sandstone. The back is deeply grooved, but it exhibits 

 no marks of having ever been attached to any object. 



Sculptures of Animals. — Sculptured figures of a considerable number of ani- 

 mals have been found in the mounds, including the lamantin, the beaver, otter, elk, 

 bear, wolf, panther, wild cat, raccoon, oppossum, and squirrel. 



Fig. 153. The Lamantin, Manitus, or Sea-cow is not found in this latitude, but 

 is peculiar to tropical regions. Seven sculptured representations of this animal 

 have been taken from the mounds, of which three are nearly perfect. When first 



Fio. ISS". 



discovered, it was supposed they were monstrous creations of fancy ; but subsequent 

 investigation and comparison have shown that they are faithful representations of 

 one of the most singular animal productions of the world. Naturalists assume to 

 know but little of the lamantin, beyond its form and general characteristics. Its 

 habits are involved in much obscurity. It is thus described by Godman : 



" The general figure of the lamantin is rather elliptical and elongated. Its head 

 is shaped like a simple truncated cone, and terminates in a thick fleshy snout, 

 semi-circular at its extremity, and |)ierred at the uppei part by two small semi- 



