208 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. 



points from which to begin or end the measurement. One thing was notice- 

 able, however, to the eye and confirmed by measurements. There was no 

 proboscis to tlie figure. The point whicli extended from the nose was in- 

 distinct and appeared to be the result of the washing of the sandy 

 soil down to the level. It was evident that that which was taken for the 

 proboscis was never long enough or wide enough to properly represent that 

 part. The writer has had considerable experience in tracing out mounds 

 which were nearly obliterated and ordinarily would be able to describe the 

 figure from what might be called the shadow of it. The peculiar color of 

 the soil, which originally belonged to the figure, and the indescribable 

 shading of this soil into the undisturbed surface of the soil or ground sur- 

 rounding it, will ordinarily give the figure to the eye, even if the measure- 

 ments should be unsatisfactory. The impression formed by this effigy, and 

 especially the part of it which is the distinctive and deciding point was 

 that the proboscis was never there. The writer hesitates to put himself on 



record as contradicting such reliable persons as have given a description of 

 the effigy to the pubhc. There is this, however, to be considered. If the 

 engraved figure which was made according to a scale from the measure- 

 ments of Jared "Wamer, and those accompanying him, should be taken, and 

 the narrow, pointed snout left off from the figure as uncertain, we should 

 have an effigy which bears very httle resemblance to the elephant. (See 

 Fig. 2.) On the other hand, if any one undertakes to draw the figure so 

 that it shall have the trunk in its usual place and shape he would have to 

 completely overdraw and distort the figure, as it is now. This view led the 

 writer, at his first visit, to doubt the intent of the effigy, and every other 

 visit has increased the doubt. The examination of the effigy itself proved 

 so unsatisfactory that the writer determined to study and survey the groups 

 adjoining, and therefore a description of these groups is added to tfce re- 

 port. It should be said that the study was given first to the groups on the 

 bottom-lands, then extended to the bluffs, and afterward the whole region 

 was traversed and examined, until all the groups in the vicinity were ex- 

 plored. These will be given in their order. 



