der and Musk-rat.---------

We notice this as to the location of the mounds. When we examine the
mounds themselves we observe no little skill in the way they represent
the animals. They often impressed on them something more than mere
animal resemblances. "There are groups where the attitudes are
expressive of a varied action. Certain animals, like the weasel or mink,
being seen with a bird so near that, apparently, it might be caught by a
single spring; and still others, like the wolf or wild-cat, are arranged
head to head, as if prepared for combat; and still others, like
the squirrel or coon, are in the more playful attitudes, sometimes
apparently chasing one another over hill or valley; and again situated
alone, as if they had just leaped from some tree, or drawn themselves
out of some den or hole."<46>

Illustration Man-shaped Mound.-------------------

Nor is the effigy of the human form wanting. It is found in several
localities throughout the State. This cut shows us one such effigy.
This was the beginning of a long train of animal mounds, presumably
representing bears, found near the Blue Mounds, Wisconsin.<47> We can
not observe that any more importance was ascribed to the effigy of a
human being than to that of an animal.

In casting about for suitable explanation for the erection of these
animal mounds, we find ourselves lost in conjecture as to the motive
which induced these people to prepare these earthen effigies. We may be
sure that it was for some other reason than for amusement, or to give
exercise to an artistic feeling. Only in very few instances do we detect
any arrangements which would imply that they were in the nature of
defenses. In some cases the effigies are so arranged as to form a sort
of inclosure, some portion of the figure being prolonged to an unusual
extent and thus inclosing a space that may have been utilized for a
village site. This group on the Wisconsin River illustrates this
point. Here the area thus partially inclosed, is about an acre. It is
a singular fact that these inclosures are almost always triangular in
shape.<48> But it is manifest that a simple earth wall would serve for
defense much better than these forms. They probably were not burial
mounds, as few contain human remains, and it is not yet certain that
these remains were not intrusive burials.<49> It seems, therefore that
they must have been in some manner connected with the religious life of
the people.