The Animal Effigies of Wisconsin. 
323 
There was no appropriation ever received, and no salary se¬ 
cured. No opportunity was given to carry out the comparison 
on broad lines, but the more the subject has been investigated 
the more clearly has the resemblance become apparent. 
There is a wide difference between the animal effigies of 
Wisconsin and the peculiar symbolism embodied in the totem 
poles of the north west coast. The latter belong to a com¬ 
plicated system which resembles that found in the islands of 
of the Pacific, yet the comparison helps one to see the differences 
in the totem system as it has developed in different parts of the 
world. 
It is not claimed that the totem system of Wisconsin was 
derived from that of Arabia, nor from the tribes of the Pacific 
islands, but it is not very absurd to believe that the various 
systems grew up in parallel lines. 
There is perhaps more truth contained in these effigies, and 
emblems than has been dreamed of; but the key to the system 
found in Wisconsin is in danger of being lost, from the fact 
that so many of them have been destroyed. 
The microscope and the telescope are in the hands of natura¬ 
lists and astronomers. The archaeologist has no instrument 
by which he can bring order out of confusion, or restore the 
missing links in this problem. 
Anatomists may study the intricacies of the human system 
and undertake to solve the problem of life, but these figures 
which were once scattered over the length and breadth of this 
land and contained a system with many variations, cannot be 
studied with any satisfaction because so many of them have 
been destroyed. 
Life is not in them, and the people who built them have dis¬ 
appeared or have changed their habits and the clue to the prob¬ 
lem is in danger of being lost. And yet the totem system is 
becoming more important and suggestive every day. 
Such writers as Andrea Lang of England, R. H. Matthews of 
Australia, W. S. Bostcoyne formerly of Babylonia, Glaser, 
formerly of Arabia, have studied the totem system and much 
information has been furnished. Mr. James Deans, on the 
