12 The American Naturalist. (January, 
river. Below this point, in the swamp, entirely surrounded 
by water when the river is high, is a ridge of shell running 
north and south, 350 feet in length, with a maximum breadth 
of 180 feet. The southern extremity, the lowest portion of 
the ridge, is from 4} to 6 feet in height; while the northern 
end attains a maximum elevation of 11 feet, 10 inches, above 
the level of the swamp when dry. Two excavations, 8x5 feet, 
4 in.x9} feet deep and 7}x4x6 feet deep, were made. Two 
or three bits of rude, plain pottery were met with, but none at 
a greater depth than two feet from the surface. Just below 4 
the surface a human humerus was found, and a human verte- 
bra at adepth of one foot. A fire-place was at the same depth 
but at a distance from the vertebra, which showed no marks of 
fire. At a depth of four feet was found a triangular imple- 
ment of shell; while 4 feet, 8 inches, down, immediately upon 
a fire-place, were two rude arrow-heads, one with ashes upon 
it. Animal bones, disconnected, mainly of the alligator, the 
turtle and the deer, were encountered throughout. 
MT. TAYLOR. 
This great swamp shell ridge,’ the highest fresh-water shell 
deposit on the St. John’s River, lies on the east bank, 200 
yards (paced) from the water’s edge. It is about one mile 
south of Volusia, and in dry seasons can be reached from the 
river by wading through the swamp; though access from dry 
land in the rear, about forty yards distant, is advisable. 
Under any circumstances, the services of a guide are a neces- 
sity. This shell heap is not referred to by Le Baron, nor is it | 
particularly mentioned by Wyman, who could not have © 
failed to describe so remarkable a heap, had it been accorded 
a visit. On page 44 of his memoir, Fresh Water Shell a 
Mounds of the St. John’s River, Florida, “two mounds, right 
bank, between Lake Dexter and Volusia,” are included in the — 
6The thanks of the writer are due to Mr. William Edgar Bird, of Brooklyn, for 
much information and valuable assistance, and for most cordial permission to prose- 
cute investigations on every portion of his 5000 acres lying between Lake Dexter — 
and Volusia; including the great shell heaps and sand mound of Bluffton, in addition | 2 
to Mt. Taylor and other shell heaps in the swamp. 
