ETHNOLOGY. 431 



and are nearly obliterated. At the time these localities were visited 

 the valley was covered by a crop of standing corn, which rendered it 

 difficult to find them, and it is probable that many exist which were 

 not noticed. No circular or effigy mounds were found in connection 

 with them. 



13. S. E. J sec. 21, T. 5, R. 6 W.— Continuing down the valley we 

 come to a group in which the three kinds of mounds are well repre- 

 sented. They lie upon the alluvial bottom, quite near a bayou of the 

 Mississippi, and none of them are more than 8 feet above high-water 

 mark, while those in the southern part of the group are not more than 

 3 feet. In this group, where all kinds are represented, there seems to 

 be a separation of the long and round mounds from each other. There 

 is nothing of peculiar interest in the occurrence of the long and circular 

 mounds, but we have here two quite singular effigies. The central one 

 of the group is evidently intended to represent a bird with the wings 

 spread, in the act of flying ; the head is directed to the south. The 

 wings measure 94 feet each way, from the center of the body to their 

 extremities, and the length of the tail is 65 feet. It is quite a large and 

 well-formed effigy, and is different from the other bird mounds in 

 having an angle in the wings. 



Situated at the northern end of the group is the most interesting 

 effigy-mound anywhere observed. A description of it by Mr. Warner, 

 of Patch Grove, was published in the Smithsonian report of 1872, page 

 416. It is known as the "Elephant Mound," and as it lies upon the 

 ground it resembles an elephant or mastodon much more closely than 

 any other animal, and the resemblance is much more perfect in this in- 

 stance than in other effigies. This mound, in common with all the rest 

 in the group, has been under cultivation ; and on account of its size 

 special efforts have been made with plows and scrapers to bring it to 

 the level of the adjacent field. Its size alone has protected it. These 

 efforts have resulted in diminishing its height, increasing its width and 

 general circumference, and rendering its outline somewhat indistinct, 

 so that it was difficult to make exact measurements. 



14. K E. £ sec. 17, T. 3, R. 5 W.— A short distance below Cassville, 

 near the bank of the Mississippi, are three animal mounds. Several 

 long mounds were seen in the vicinity but no circular ones. One of 

 them is probably intended to represent some kind of a lizard or saurian, 

 another is a bird with extended wings, and the third is uncertain, but, 

 in common with the first, is remarkable for having a round head, a pecu- 

 liarity not observed in any other effigies. The first-mentioned is a large 

 and symmetrical mound, and is the only one of the kind observed. The 

 mounds are very well defined, and are some of the best-preserved ef- 

 figies seen. 



15. S. £ sec. 30, N. E. £, sec. 31, N. W. J, sec. 32, T. 3, R. 4 W.-This 

 is a long, high ridge, having its general direction a little south of east. 

 Upon it is the most extensive representation and fullest development 



