WISCONSIN. 415 



east, (tovrn of Matteson.) The pits are in an irregular line, general 

 direction from northwest to southeast, from four to six rods apart. 

 Quite a number are in pairs. The depth, as fouud by excavating the 

 earth that had caved in, was originally from 4 to 5 feet, diameter 3 

 feet. In almost every instance the earth was thrown out on the south- 

 west side. Soil sandy. 



A few years ago the land was covered by a heavy growtli of timber, 

 principally hemlock. Trees over two hundred years old grew on the 

 earth that had been thrown out. The chain is broken by a small pond, 

 perhaps ten rods across, but follows a sandy ridge most of the way. 

 The site is just such as might be selected to form a line of defense. 



MOUND IN WISCONSIN* 



By C. K. Dean, Boscobel, Grant County, Wisconsin. 



We have, or had, in the Wisconsin Valley, which I have seen and 

 sketched in part, many curious mounds resembling animals, those of fly- 

 ing birds being the most common ; but nothing in the shape of an ele- 

 phant or any extinct animal. The most striking among my notes is one 

 in the form of a man, immense in proportions, sketched twenty years 

 ago at Black Earth. The other in the shape of a huge molar tooth. 

 This was in the town of Dover, about fifty miles above us. I saw the 

 man-mound the next day after it had been opened at the breast to the 

 natural level of the ground, and observed that it was designed as a 

 tomb and memorial of some one evidently distinguished in life. The 

 tomb was made from a blue-clay, brought in balls from some distance — 

 none such near — was well packed and smooth, and of full length. The 

 walls near two feet thick, inclosing a vacant space containing traces of 

 burial of one, or perhaps two bodies. A few relics of little importance 

 were reported — two stone hatchets, some arrow-heads, &c., which I 

 did not see ; but ashes and the smell of mortality were still there. The 

 arms of this figure were extended north and south, each 330 feet in 

 length, or about 700 feet altogether, including the width of the body, and 

 the body to the east about 100 feet in length. The legs were partially 

 obliterated by cultivation of the ground, but were evidently about GOO 

 feet long. The head was about 25 feet in diameter, and the elevation of 

 the body above the surface of tlie ground about 5 feet. 



