THOMAS.) WORKS NEAR WYALUSING. 87 



group is encountered, and at the eastern extremity of this lies the only 

 effigy mound of the system so far as observed. East of this a broken 

 series of oblong and chain mounds continues indefinitely. On the 

 southern spurs of the promontory are three additional groups of con- 

 ical and oblong mounds following the crests of the ridges and termi- 

 nating near the escarped i)oints. 



All of these works are in an excellent state of preservation. A few 

 have been dug into by relic hunters. The two isolated conical mounds 

 are of average size, being about 25 feet in diameter and between 3 and 

 4 feet high. The oblong mounds are straight even ridges, ranging from 

 80 to 125 feet in length and from 10 to 20 in width, and in height rarely 

 exceeding 3i feet. 



The chain mounds are of particular interest. They have been built 

 with much care and are wonderfully preserved. The cones average 

 less than 20 feet in diameter and are from 2 to 4 feet in height. The 

 distance from center to center varies from 30 to 40 feet and the con- 

 necting ridges of earth are about Hi feet wide and from 2 to 3 feet 

 high. 



The most noteworthy member of the series is the efflgy mound. It 

 is perhaps more suggestive of the puma than of any other quadruped. 

 This work is well preserved, but the loose vegetable mold of which 

 it is composed does not admit of the preservation of more than a gen- 

 eralized form, no matter to what extent the individuality of the original 

 shape was developed. 



The full length of the figure may be given as 144 feet, although the 

 tail is very indistinct toward the extremity. The head is toward the 

 east and exhibits no other feature than a slight projection for the nose. 

 The characters of the animal have received proper attention. The body 

 is full and rounded and the extremities fall off gradually in width and 

 height. The curves of the back and legs are well rendered, and the 

 whole conception is presented with sufficient spirit. The distance from 

 the toes to the back line is 36 feet. The body, at the point of greatest 

 relief, is not over 3 J feet high. 



The mounds of this group appear to be composed mainly of vegetable 

 mold obtained on the spot. 



The conical mound, situated upon the very brow of the bluff, is 25 feet 

 in diameter and 4 feet high. Abroad trench carried through it revealed 

 only the decayed bones of a child, extended at full length beneath the 

 central core of hard, dry earth. Pits sunk in the oblong mounds 

 brought nothing to light. A number of circular mounds on the adja- 

 cent bluffs was also opened, but nothing save decayed human bones 

 was found in them. 



WORKS NKAK WYALUSING. 



Pour excellent illustrations of the remarkable mound groups of Wis- 

 consin are to be seen near Wyalusing, a station on the Burlington and 



