126 ANIMAL CARVINGS. 



cerning wliich animal it is stated that "seven scnlptured representations 

 have been taken from the mounds." When first discovered, the authors 

 continue, "it was supposed they were monstrous creations of fancy; 

 but subsequent investigations and comparison have shown that they 

 are faithful representations of one of the most singular animal produc- 

 tions of the world." 



These authors appear to have been the first to note the supposed 

 likeness of certain of the sculptured forms found in the mounds to 

 animals living in remote regions. That they were not slow to pei-ceive 

 the ethnological interest and value of the discoverj^ is shown by the 

 fact that it was immediately adduced by them as affording a clew to 

 the possible origin of the Mound-Builders. The importance they at- 

 tached to the discovery and their interpretation of its significance will 

 be apparent from the following quotation (j). 242) : 



Some of these sculptures have a value, so far as ethnological research is concerned, 

 much higher than they can claim as mere works of art. This value is derived from the 

 fact that they faithfully represent animals and birds peculiar to other latitudes, thus 

 establishing a migration, a very extensive intercommunication or a contemporaneous 

 existence of the same race over a vast extent of country. 



The idea thus suggested fell on fruitful ground, and each succeeding 

 writer who has attempted to show that the Mound-Builders were of a 

 race different from the North American Indian, or had other than an 

 autochthonous origin, has not failed to lay especial stress upon the ijres- 

 ence in the mounds of sculptures of the manatee, as well as of other 

 strange beasts and birds, carved evidently by the same hands that por- 

 trayed many of our native fauna. 



Except that the theories based upon the sculptures have by recent 

 writers been annunciated more positively and given a wider range, they 

 have been left almost precisely as set forth by^the authors of the "An- 

 cient Monuments," while absolutely nothing appears to have been 

 brought to light since their time in the way of additional sculptured 

 evidence of the same character. It is indeed a little curious to note the 

 perfect unanimiry with which most writers fall back upon the above 

 authors as at once the source of the data they adduce in support of the 

 several theoiies, and as their final, nay, their only, authority. Now and 

 then one will be found to dissent from some particular bit of evidence as 

 announced by Squier and Davis, or to give a somewhat different turn 

 to the conclusions derivable from the testimony offered by them. But 

 in the main the theories first announced by the authors of "Ancient 

 Monuments," as the result of their study of the mound sculptures, are 

 those that pass current to-day. Particular attention may be called to 

 the deep and lasting impression made by the statements of these au- 

 thors as to the great beauty and high standard of excellence exhibited 

 by the mound sculptures. Since their time writers appear to be well 

 satisfied to express their own admiration in the terms made use of by 

 Squier and Davis. One might, indeed, almost suppose that lecent 



