1 882.] Flowers of Solan mzcrista. 281 



fidence that no representative of an exclusively exotic fauna 

 figured in the pipe-sculptures of the mound-builders. If we 

 accept the presence of the mammoth or mastodon amongst these 

 carvings, the species which served as models, though now extinct, 

 must be classed with our indigenous fauna. Their knowledge of 

 such animals as the-parroquet, the manatus, and possibly the seal 

 and Rocky mountain sheep, does not necessarily indicate any 

 particular migration on the part of that ancient people, but serves 

 to show that their intercourse and commercial relations with other ' 

 peoples were extensive. As has been previously remarked, how- 

 ever, the artists were apparently well acquainted with some of 

 the birds, mammals and amphibia whose geographical limits were 

 far removed from the upper portion of the Mississippi valley, but 

 which, nevertheless, might have been met with by some of the 

 people in their expeditions. On the other hand, many of the 

 representations were evidently executed from descriptions or rude 

 delineations furnished by those who had seen the originals. The 

 mounds have produced galena from Missouri and the adjacent 

 territory; mica from the spurs of the Alleghany or Rocky 

 mountains; Catlinite from Minnesota; copper from the Lake 

 Superior region ; obsidian from Mexico and the Pacific slope of 

 the United States, and marine shells from the Gulf of Mexico, 

 the Atlantic ocean, and also the Dentalium of the Pacific coast. 1 

 Thus it will be seen that the trade relations of the mound-build- 

 ers extended over a great extent of territory, in fact, covering the 

 greater portion of the present United States and probably pene- 

 trating into British America and Mexico. 



ON THE FLOWERS OF SOLANUM ROSTRATUM AND 

 CASSIA CHAMyECRISTA. 2 



BY PROFESSOR J. E. TODD. 



AX/ITHIN a few years, a plant has been introduced into South- 

 ' * western Iowa, which is as unwelcome as it is interesting. 

 It bristles all over on stem, leaves and fruit, with stout, rigid 

 prickles. It is commonly called Texas nettle, as it is supposed 

 to have been brought by the herds of Texas cattle, which in 



'Vide Ancient Aboriginal Trade in North America, by Dr. Chas. Rau. Smith. 



