THOMAS.) WISCONSIN AND DAKOTA. 533 



Of course they vary greatly iu size and the relative proportions they 

 bear to the animals re])resented, but this variation is greater when the 

 similar effigies of different sections are compared than when those of 

 one locality are compared with each other. Take for illustration the 

 following measurements of the spread of the birds' wings, that is, from tip 

 to tip. Six iu Crawford County. Wisconsin, are as follows (two of thb 

 measurements being duplicated) : 280, 228, 230, and 253 feet, while iu 

 other sections they are found varying thus : 133, 150, 189, 32, 360, 412, 

 and 325 feet. The sizes of the efiSgies of (juadrupeds are indicated by 

 the following lengths of the body in feet: 110, GO, 115, 83, 50, SO, 98, 

 70, etc. The elevation varies from a few inches to 4 or 5 feet, though 

 very few exceed 4 feet. 



It is a somewhat singular fact, and one that should be taken into 

 cousideration in the study of these anomalous works, tliat, as a general 

 rule, the heads point southward, especially in the vicinity of rivers 

 running in this direction. In several instances entire series of these 

 effigies, which have been termed not inaptly " droves," are observed 

 pointing southward or down stream. This general direction of these 

 structures is mentioned more than once by Lapham and is to some 

 extent observable in his plates. 



Rev. S. D. Peet remarks ' : 



It is singular that the emblematic mounds should be so strictly coutiiied to the seo- 

 grajihii'iil limits of this single state. The iniagiuary line known as the southern 

 limit of Wisconsin certain!}- forms no geographical or physical barrier which should 

 nuike a separating boundary between the aucueut races. The barriers of natuie, 

 whiili are presented by Lake Michigan on one side and by the Mississippi river on 

 the other, might have separated the jirehistoric inhabitants and to a degree isolated 

 those dwelling in Wisconsin from those to either side, but to the southward 

 scarcely a shadow of difference can be discovered. The same soil and scenery extend 

 in this direction far beyond the limits of the state, and the geographical characteris- 

 tics are nearly the same throughout the several states surronndiug. 



This fact, therefore, we may presume is owing to some cause which 

 has disappeared, and what more likely, we may ask, than that in this 

 soirthern direction were other tribes which prevented further extension 

 into the prairie region of Illinois f The occurrence of a few of the unmis- 

 takable elongate, waU like mounds as far south as the region of Spoon 

 river in the latitude of Peoria, indicates an attempt on the i)art of tlie 

 effigy builders to i)ush out in this dii'ection, either when entering their 

 more northern home or after they had established themselves there. 



The comparatively few excavations which have been made in these 

 works indicate that they were not intended for burial purposes, nor has 

 anything yet been observed which would lead to the belief that they 

 were thrown up for dwelling sites. Several theories have been advanced 

 as to the use and object for which they were built, but these will be 

 referred to elsewhere. 



If the following, by an unknown writer whose article appeared in the 



' Am. Aiitiij.. Vol. 3. p. 2. 



