330 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



Lamps ills ventricosa (Barnes). Pocket-book Mussel. 

 Specimens of this mussel were common in all mounds and 

 fragments occurred in village site debris. Two specimens 

 from Pittsburg Lake cemetery had been variously cut 

 along the anterior margin. It is thought that these were 

 used as scoops or spoons. 



Ligumia recta latissima (Raf.) Black Sand Shell. 

 Rare. 



SNAIL SHELLS 



Anculosa praerosa (Say). River Snail. 



This snail was used largely for beads. The side was 

 ground until a perforation was made into the cavity of 

 the body whirl and the shells could then be strung on 

 threads or cords through this hole and the natural open- 

 ing at the aperture. Shells thus prepared were common 

 in the James Ramey Mound at various depths and also 

 in other mounds. 



Campeloma subsolidum (Anthony). Large River Snail. 



This shell, which in life has a beautiful green epider- 

 mis, was also esteemed by the mound builders and used 

 as beads in the same manner as Anculosa described above. 

 These shells occurred in the mounds and in the village 

 site material. 



Campeloma ponderosum (Say). Heavy River snail. 

 Rare. Two specimens were found in the James Ramey 

 Mound. 



Pleurocera acuta Raf. 



A few specimens of these slender river snails were 

 found in the James Ramey Mound. Their practical use 

 is not indicated by marks on the shells. 



Near the bottom (21 feet depth) of the James Ramey 

 Mound, as well as in other mounds, a number of fresh 

 water shells were found which evidently were not used 

 by the aborigines for ornamentation or domestic use but 

 were included when the mound was built. If the material 

 from which the mounds were built was in part taken 

 from the border or bottom of ponds which were dry in 

 summer but contained water in the winter and spring, 

 such mollusks as here indicated would be included. They 

 occur abundantly in such locations in all parts of Illinois. 



