SEPTEMBER. 227 



coils and gaping jaws that have braved for unknown cent- 

 uries alike the torrid heat of summer and pitiless raging 

 of midwinter storms. 



This religious or symbolical character of the entire 

 structure is emphasized, I think, from the fact that a 

 large oval embankment is situated directly in front of the 

 serpent's gaping jaws. This added earth-work gives an 

 even more life-like appearance to the whole, although it 

 was by no means needed. What, of course, is the signifi- 

 cance of the ^^&gg" as this oval structure is popularly 

 called, can only be conjectured ; but indeed there is little 

 to be done but guess, and never very shrewdly perhaps, 

 while we wander along the curves or pause to admire the 

 gracefully coiled tail, or, from the park-land behind it 

 all, we survey the structure as a whole. 



And here let me add that every opportunity is now 

 offered to him_ who would study this vestige of antiquity. 

 It was a happy thought to preserve it for all time from the 

 destruction that threatened it. Eecently it was purchased 

 by private contributions, and is now, with all the immedi- 

 ately adjacent land, held in trust by the Peabody Museum 

 of American Archaeology of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 



I saw the Serpent last when a death-like stillness 

 brooded over all ; when even the cricket's restless rasping 

 was hushed, and it was fitting at such a time to bid this 

 mystery of a distant past farewell. 



On the 10th of the month I happened to be wandering 

 along the enormous curves of the Serpent Mound when my 

 attention was called to a little tuft of grass that for some 

 reason had been left standing. 



The day before the ground for a considerable space 

 had been closely mowed, and not a trace of the beautiful 

 autumn bloom that had made the spot a garden of de- 

 lights had been left standing. Mist-flower, golden-rod. 



