ILLUSTRATIONS.

Fig. 4.—­Otter from Squier and Davis 128
     5.—­Otter from Squier and Davis 128
     6.—­Otter from Rau.  Manatee from Stevens 129
     7.—­Manatee from Stevens 129
     8.—­Lamantin or Sea-Cow from Squier and Davis 130
     9.—­Lamantin or Sea-Cow from Squier 130
    10.—­Manatee (Manatus Americanus, Cuv.) 132
    11.—­Manatee (Manatus Americanus, Cuv.) 132
    12.—­Cincinnati Tablet—­back.  From Squier and Davis 133
    13.—­Cincinnati Tablet—­back.  From Short 134
    14.—­Toucan from Squier and Davis 135
    15.—­Toucan from Squier and Davis 135
    16.—­Toucan from Squier and Davis 136
    17.—­Toucan as figured by Stevens 137
    18.—­Keel-billed Toucan of Southern Mexico 139
    19.—­Paroquet from Squier and Davis 140
    20.—­Owl from Squier and Davis 144
    21.—­Grouse from Squier and Davis 144
    22.—­Turkey-buzzard from Squier and Davis 145
    23.—­Cherry-bird 145
    24.—­Woodpecker 146
    25.—­Eagle from Squier and Davis 146
    26.—­Rattlesnake from Squier and Davis 147
    27.—­Big Elephant Mound in Grant County, Wisconsin 153
    28.—­Elephant Pipe.  Iowa 155
    29.—­Elephant Pipe.  Iowa 156
    30.—­The Alligator Mound near Granville, Ohio 159
    31.—­Carvings of heads 162
    32.—­Carvings of heads 162
    33.—­Carvings of heads 162
    34.—­Carving of head 163
    35.—­Carving of head 163

ANIMAL CARVINGS FROM MOUNDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

By H. W. Henshaw.

INTRODUCTORY.

The considerable degree of decorative and artistic skill attained by the so-called Mound-Builders, as evidenced by many of the relics that have been exhumed from the mounds, has not failed to arrest the attention of archaeologists.  Among them, indeed, are found not a few who assert for the people conveniently designated as above a degree of artistic skill very far superior to that attained by the present race of Indians as they have been known to history.  In fact, this very skill in artistic design, asserted for the Mound-Builders, as indicated by the sculptures they have left, forms an important link in the chain of argument upon which is based the theory of their difference from and superiority to the North American Indian.