144 



ANIMAL CARVINGS. 



this species with the Busycon carica, which is of common occurrence in 

 the mounds. The latter is found as far north as Cape Cod. The facts 

 cited put a very difl'erent complexion on the presence of these shells in 

 the mouuds. 



OTHER ERRORS OF IDENTIFICATION. 



The erroneous identification of the manatee, the toucan, and of sev- 

 eral other animals having been pointed out, it may be well to glance at 

 certain others of the sculptured animal forms, the identification of which 



Fig. "JO. — "Uwl,"' from Squier and Davis. 



by Squier and Davis has passed without dispute, with a view to deter- 

 miuing how far the accuracy of these authors in this particular line 

 is to be trusted, and how successful they have been in interpreting the 

 much lauded "fidelity to nature" of the mound sculptures. 



Fig. 20 (Squier and Davis, An- 

 cient Monuments of the Mississippi 

 Valley, p. 225, Fig. 123) represents 

 a tube of steatite, upon which is 

 carved, as is stated, ''in high relief 

 the figure of an owl, attached with 

 its back to the tube." This carving, 

 the authors state, is " remarkably 

 bold and spirited, and represents 

 the bird with its claws contracted 

 and drawn up, and head and beak 

 elevated as if in an attitude of de- 

 fense and defiance." 

 from any of the avian sculptures, 

 and probably was not intended to represent a bird at all. The absence 

 of feather etchings and the peculiar shape of the wing are especially 

 noticeable. It more nearly resembles, if it can be said to resemble 

 anything, a bat, with the features very much distorted. 



Fig. 21. — "Grou.se," from Squier and Davi.s. 



This carving differs markedly 



