Ancient Remains, Animal Mounds, Sfe. in Wisconsin. 29 



elevation gradually diminishes to one foot. Bearings, north and 

 south, the head to the southward. In the centre of the breast 

 of this figure, there is quite a depression. Indians frequently, af- 

 ter gathering their crops, dig pits in the earth for the purpose of 

 securing their provisions and merchandise from the frosts of win- 

 ter and depredations of the enemy ; these pits, in the language 

 of the French voyageurs, are technically called caches. The de- 

 pression in this figure may have been occasioned by an excava- 

 tion for this purpose. In a group of earth-works about a mile to 

 the northwest of this one, another figure in the human shape, 

 of like magnitude, may be seen ; and of the same group, a 

 very large mound forms a part. This mound, in circumference 

 at its base, measures two hundred feet, and in height sixteen 

 feet. The human figures, generally, do not seem to be as well 

 proportioned as those in the form of quadrupeds ; it is however 

 strange that they should have been constructed upon such a gi- 

 gantic scale. 



Fig. 3 represents a complete circle, situated two or three 

 hundred yards to the northeast of fig. 1. In wandering through 

 the forest in quest of strange figures, I accidentally discovered 

 this circle ; I have since searched for it for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining by excavation, whether it may not have resulted from 

 the accumulation of ashes proceeding from circular fires, which 

 Indians on some occasions make, but I was unable again to find 

 it. The embankment of this figure, which I measured on the 

 spot, is only ten inches in height, and in width six feet ; the di- 

 ameter of the circle is one hundred and seven feet. 



Fig. 4 was originally an embankment, approaching the form 

 of a bear, but at this time it is partially destroyed by a road pass- 

 ing over it. I fortunately took its dimensions when it was yet 

 perfect ; its whole length from forehead to rump was fifty six 

 feet, which was, in comparison to others, of small dimensions ; 

 the elevation was only about twenty inches ; it may be seen 

 within a hundred yards of my cabin, one mile and a half north 

 of the river in Richland county. Bearings, north and south ; 

 head to the southward, and the legs projecting eastward. 



Fig. 5 is one of a group of three, closely resembling each 

 other, in the western part of the village of Muscoda, in the county 

 of Grant ; its length from the front part of the head to the end 

 of the tail, is two hundred and sixty four feet ; the numerical 



