MALLERY. | PETROGLYPHS IN OWENS VALLEY. 59 
the whitened appearance of the sand and of some of the embankments. A general 
view of the faces of the bowlders upon which the chief sculpturings occur is pre- 
sented in Fig. 17. The petroglyphs are represented in Pls. viii to Ix. 
The figures presented in Pl. viit are, with one exception, each about one-thirtieth 
the size of the original. The animal character in e is upon the top of the largest 
bowlder shown on Fig. 17, and is pecked to the depth of from one-fourth to one-half 
an inch, Portions of it are much defaced through erosion by sand blown by the 
strong summer winds. The characters in g are only one-tenth of the original size, 
but of depth similar to the preceding. 
On PI. 1x, a is one-twentieth the size of the original, while the remaining sculp- 
turings are about one-tenth size. The cross in @ is singularly interesting because of 
the elaborateness of its execution. The surface within the circle is pecked out so 
as to have the cross stand out bold and level with the original surface. This is true 
also of fon Pl. vit, PI. 1X, >, contains some animal forms like those reported from 
New Mexico and Arizona, and Brazil [and presented in this work], especially that 
Fie. 17.—\View of Chalk grade petroglyphs, Owens valley. 
character to the right resembling a guanaco couchant, although, from its relation- 
ship to the figure of an antelope, in the same group, it no doubt is intended to rep- 
resent one of the latter species. 
On PI. x, as well as on others of this collection, are found many forms of circles with 
interior decoration, such as lines arranged by pairs, threes, ete., zigzag and cross 
lines, and other seemingly endless arrangements. They are interesting from the fact 
of the occurrence of almost identical forms in remote localities, as in the Canary 
islands and in Brazil. [These are figured and described infra. ] 
It is probable that they are not meaningless, because the disposition of the Indian, 
as he is to-day, is such that no time would be spent upon such laborious work with- 
ont an object, and only motives of a religions or ceremonial nature would induce 
him to expend the time and Jabor necessary to accomplish such results as are still 
presented. On Pl. x1, a, are more footprints and animal forms of the genus cervus 
or antelocapra. The figures in b and d, having an upright line with two crossing it at 
right angles, may signify either a lizard or man, the latter signification being prob- 
ably the true one, as similar forms are drawn in petroglyphs of a Shoshonian type, 
as in Arizona. [See supra.] = 
The country over which these records are scattered is arid beyond description and 
destitute of vegetation. Watterson’s ranch group is more favorably located, there 
being an abundance of springs and a stream running northward toward Black lake. 
