XXXII ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



to this interesting field of archaeology. But those who have 

 hitherto conducted the researches have betrayed a predetermi- 

 nation to find something inexplicable on the simple hypothesis 

 of a continuous Indian population, and were swept by blind 

 zeal into serious errors even when they were not imposed upon 

 by frauds and forgeries. Some of the latter, consisting of ob- 

 jects manufactured for sale to supply the manifested craving 

 afterthe marvelous, and even inscribed tablets suggesting alpha- 

 betic or phonetic systems, have recently been exposed by the 

 agency of this Bureau. 



Some of the most deservedly respected of the writers on 

 the branch of research indicated have deduced important in- 

 ferences from the asserted high degree of excellence in the 

 animal carvings taken from the mounds, and their apparent 

 portrayal of the forms of certain animals not now found in 

 the same region Mr; H. W. Heushaw, skilled as a naturalist, 

 especially as an ornithologist, and famihar by personal ex- 

 ploration with a large part of our national territory, was led 

 to examine into the truth of these statements, repeated from 

 author to author without question or criticism, and used as 

 data in all discussions relating to the mounds. The result is 

 in the important paper now published. His conclusions, 

 which, from the evidence adduced, seem to be incontroverti- 

 ble, are of such material consequence that they are here 

 repeated, as follows : 



"First. That, of the carvings from the mounds which can 

 be identified, there are no representations of birds or animals 

 not indigenous to the Mississippi Valley; and consequently, 

 that the theories of origin for the Mound Builders suggested 

 by the presence in the mounds of carvings of supposed for- 

 eign animals are without basis. 



"Second. That a large majority of the car\nngs, instead of 

 being, as assumed, exact likenesses from nature, possess in 

 reality only the most general resemblance to the birds and 

 animals of the region which they were doubtless intended to 

 represent. 



"Third. That there is no reason for believing that the 



