OF THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. XXXIX 
more restricted field of those connected with burial. In the 
presentation of his views Professor Thomas exhibits care, can- 
dor, and accuracy, and the illustrations presented are amply 
sufficient to explain the text when needed, while the quotations — 
from and references to the literature of the subject impress 
the reader with a sense of its thorough study. 
The paper, from considerations relating both to space and 
to the completeness of research, does not embrace all of the 
territory of the United States in which burial mounds have 
been found, but is confined to the northern portion. This is 
divided into districts, established from typical characteristics, 
which are described. They are— 
(1) The Wisconsin District, comprising the southern half 
of Wisconsin, a small portion of Northern Illinois, and the 
northeastern corner of Iowa. 
(2) The Illinois or Upper Mississippi District, embracing 
Eastern Iowa, Northeastern Missouri, and Northern and Cen- 
tral Hlinois. 
(3) The Ohio District, including Ohio, the western part of 
West Virginia, and the eastern part of Indiana. 
(4) The New York District, including, together with the 
northern and western parts of New York, the lake region of 
its central portion. 
(5) The Appalachian District, comprising Western North 
Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, and part 
of Southeastern Kentucky. 
The method of reasoning pursued by Professor Thomas, 
after his presentation of facts, may be illustrated by a con- 
densation of his conclusions respecting the Wisconsin District, 
as follows: 
The evidence in regard to these unstratified mounds ap- 
pears to lead directly to the conclusion that they are all the 
work of the Indians (or of their ancestors) found occupying 
the country at the time it was first visited by whites. If 
+t is conceded that the small unstratified tumuli are in part 
their work, there would seem to be no escape from the con- 
clusion that all the burial mounds of this district are to be as- 
cribed to them; for, although there are two or three types of 
