NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION. 181 



ner, to secure temporary advantages while the expedition was 

 passing through their country. The valley belongs to the Win- 

 nebagoes, whom we frequently met, and received a friendly recep- 

 tion from. We also encountered Menomonies, who occupy the 

 lower part of the adjacent Fox Eiver Valley, but rove widely west 

 and north over the countries of the tribes they are at peace with. 



The Wisconsin Yalley was formerly inhabited by the Sacs and 

 Foxes, who raised large quantities of corn and beans on its fer- 

 tile shores. They were driven by the French, in alliance with 

 the Chippewas and Menomonies. It is now possessed exclusively 

 by the Winnebagoes, a savage and bloodthirsty tribe, who came, 

 according to tradition, many years ago from the south, and are 

 thought to be related to some of the Mexican tribes. Their lan- 

 guage is cognate with the great Sioux or Dakota stock west of 

 the Mississippi, who likewise date their origin south. To those 

 accustomed to hear the softer tones of the Chippewa and Algon- 

 quin, it sounds harsh and guttural. Their name for themselves 

 is Hochungara ; the French call them Puants. 



In passing up this valley, an almost never-failing object of 

 interest was furnished by the univalve shells found along its 

 banks, and by the variety in size, shape, and color which they 

 exhibited. Of these, the late Mr. Barnes has described, from my 

 duplicates, the U. plicatus, U. verrucosus, U. ventricosus, U. pla- 

 nus, U. obliqua, and U. gracilis.* We frequently observed the 

 scolipax minor, the plover, the A. alcyon, a small yellow bird, 

 and C. vociferus, along its sandy shores ; and, in other positions, 

 the brant, the grouse, the A. sponsa, and the summer duck, and 

 F. melodia. A range of hills extends from the Mississippi, on each 

 shore, to within twenty miles of the Portage, where it ceases, on 

 the south side, but continues on the north — receding, however, a 

 considerable distance. This section is called the Highlands of 

 the Wisconsin. The stratification is exclusively sandstone and 

 limestone, in the usual order of the metalliferous series of the 

 West, and lying in horizontal positions. 



There are two kinds of rattlesnake in the Yalley of the Wis- 

 consin. The larger, or barred crotalis, is confined to the hills, 

 and attains a large size. I killed one of this species at the mouth 



* American Journal of Science, vol. vi. p. 120, &c. 



