Mr. Peet has paid
much attention to the kind of animals represented, and has, it seems
to us, more nearly solved the question than any one else. He
recognizes four classes of animals--land animals or quadruped mammals,
always shown in profile; amphibians, always shown as sprawling, with
all four feet represented; birds, recognized by their wings; and
fishes, characterized by the absence of limbs of any kind. The land
animals are subdivided into horned grazers and fur bearers. Of the
many species he claims to find, it seems to us the most satisfactorily
identified are the buffalo, moose, deer, or elk; the panther, bear,
fox, wolf and squirrel; the lizard and turtle; the eagle, hawk, owl,
goose and crane; and fishes. One or two man mounds are known, although
most of those so-called are bird mounds--either the hawk or the owl.
Sometimes, too, "composite mounds" are found. Nor are these mounds all
that are found. Occasionally the same forms are found _in intaglio_,
cut into the ground instead of being built above it, but just as
carefully and artistically made. Notice, in addition to the form of
these strange earth works, that they are so skillfully done that the
attitude frequently suggests action or mood.
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