410 ETHNOLOGY. 



embody anthropology and ethnology in the widest sense, as well as the 

 related sciences of geography, travels, philology, general psychology, 

 &c. ; therefore we recomnaend the enterprise to the favorable attention 

 of distinguished authors, publishers, curators of libraries, and of scien- 

 tific associations. 



ANTIQUITIES OF UNION COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 

 Br Thomas M. Perrine. 



A few days ago, I, with three others, citizens of this town, engaged in 

 exploring one of those mounds located on the Running Lake, about eight 

 miles from Anna, Illinois. As there is nothing unusual in the form of this 

 mound, it needs no description. About fifteen years ago it became neces- 

 sary, in repairing a graded way across the lake, to remove a portion of 

 the mound, so at this time there is but a small j)ortion of it left. This 

 portion has often been dug into by the curious, but without obtaining 

 any result worth mentioning. We were fortunate enough, however, to 

 get some very fine pieces of pottery, representing in their formation 

 turtles, fish, &c.; but imagine my astonishment when my spade uncovered 

 a white "porphyry" stone, of forty pounds weight, which had been 

 carved from the rough into an idol, or it may have been intended for a 

 piece of statuary. It is represented in a sitting position, with the left 

 leg drawn under the body, tailor-like, while the right leg is drawn up 

 to the thigh, supporting thereon the right hand, with the elbow project- 

 ing down on the outside of the thigh, forming a very natural arch of 45°. 

 It was undoubtedly intended to represent the human form in health, and 

 clothed with muscle an d skin. The face is expressive, finely chiseled, and 

 has a resemblance to a photograph I have seen of the Sphynx. It is 

 true to anatomical proportions, and perfect in all its parts. From the 

 top of the head along the line of the sagittal suture to the chin, it meas- 

 ures 16 inches ; from the iioint of one shoulder to the other across the back, 

 9 inches ; and the same across the breast or front. The length of arm, 

 fore-arm, and hand to point of middle finger is ll" inches 5 from ear to 

 ear, across back of head, 8 inches ; across the hips, 9 inches. The leg, 

 thigh, and foot measure 11|- inches ; the length of face, from the chin 

 to what represents the hair, is 5 inches ; around the neck, under the 

 chin, 15 inche^; the height in sitting-posture is 13 inches. If 11^ inches be 

 added for inferior extremities, the height would be 25J inches if extended. 

 From the spine in the center of the back a line or groove is cut, running 

 to the right and left, and extending to the cranium or crown of the 

 head. The ears, eyes, nose, chin, and contour of the head, as well as 

 thQ whole image, is perfect, and no way mutilated by time — the stone 

 being so very hard. 



But I am making my letter too long. Inclosed I send you photo- 

 graphs. The photographs are not good, but they are the best I can get 

 in this place. I will write to you if anything more of interest is found. 



