THE EUPLECTELLA SPECIOSA, OR VENUS' FLOWER BASKET. THIS is the most beautiful and delicate coral-like sponge known. Woven in a cylindrical form, it presents a net work unrivalled in nature, and, at first sight, one would declare it a most delicate construction of spun glass. It belongs to the family of Sponges. In the description by some of our most distinguished naturalists, "this sponge which is silicious and attached by its expanded base to some marine body, is supported by a tubular skeleton made up of numerous elongated fibres; these fibres consist of fascicules, of very slender spicules, and are crossed by similar fascicules, forming together a very elaborate net work; other fibres produce concentric and oblique ridges across the outside of the tube, and the tube itself is finally covered with a net work lid formed of bundles of shorter spicules; the process of spinning and weaving appear to be simultaneous." The discovery of this elegant fabric is quite recent; within a very few years it has been brought to England, and it was an object of such interest that it commanded a price of Thirty Pounds for the earlier specimens. The great demand stimulated the search among the Phillipine Islands, its habitation, and the supply has increased to some extent, though not enough to supply fully the demand for this beautiful production of nature. Through the exertions of parties resident at the locality, a choice lot of the Euplectella speciosa has been forwarded to this country and are now offered for sale at THE NATURAL HISTORY STORE, 16 Tremont Street, Boston. The price of each specimen is $5.00; and they will be forwarded carefully packed for that amount to any part of the Union. CHARLES G. BREWSTER. FOR SALE. H. LEBERT. Traite d'Anatomie Pathologique générale ét spéciale, ou Description et Iconographique pathologique des alterations morbides, tant liquides que solides, observée dans le corps humain. Paris, 1855. Folio 2 vols. of text, and 2 vols. of plates (200) colored in the highest style of the art. Subscription copy unbound. SUPERBLY illustrated with over Fifty Engravings, the Calendar for 1869, and interesting literary matter; a beautiful and valuable annual, price 30 cents. Agents wanted in every town in New England. Sample copy sent to any address for 15 cents, by H. A. BROWN, & CO., Sole Agents, 3 School St., Boston, Mass. THE ABORIGINAL MOUND BUILDERS OF TENNESSEE. By Dr. Joseph Jones. p. 57. THE FAUNA OF MONTANA TERRITORY. By J. G. Cooper, M. D. (Continued from page 35.) p. 73. THE FOSSIL REPTILES OF NEW JERSEY. By Prof. E. D. Cope. (Concluded from Vol. I, p. 30.) With a Plate. p. 84. INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE POTATO. By Henry Shimer, M. D. Illustrated. p. 91. REVIEWS:- The Pampas and Andes, the Microscope. p. 101. A Guide to the cord of American Entomology. p. 101. 1869. p. 101. p. 100. One Thousand Objects for Study of Insects. p. 101. The ReAppleton's Illustrated Almanac for Botany. Botanical Notes. p. 101; NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. The Cedars of Lebanon. p. 102. Zoology. - The Crow a Bird of Prey. p. 102; How to collect Myriapods. p. 103; On the Drumming of the Ruffed Grouse. p. 105; Hatching of the Seventeen-year Cicada. p. 106; Preparation of Birds Eggs. p. 106; The Vision of Fishes and Amphibious Reptiles. p. 107; Flight of Birds. p. 107; Deep-sea Dredging off Scotland. p. 108; Honey Bees killed by Pollen. p. 109; Lingula found living at California. p. 109; Geology. - Prehistoric Pictures of the Cave Horse in France. p. 109; Microscopy. — Amœboid Movements in Eggs. p. 110; The Molecular Origin of lufusoria. p. 110; Chicago Microscopic Club. p. 111. CORRESPONDENCE. p. 111. BOOKS RECEIVED. p. 112. ERRATUM.-Page 94, for Academy of Natural Sciences read American Entomological Society. EDITORS: ALPHEUS S. PACKARD, jr., EDWARD S. MORSE, ALPHEUS HYATT, and FREDERIC W. PUTNAM. Terms. $4.00 A YEAR. 35 CENTS A SINGLE NUMBER. TO CLUBS OF FIVE TO NINE, at the rate of (for each subscriber) $3.50. 3.25. 3.00. An extra copy will be sent free to the person remitting the money for a club of twenty or more. [NOTE. The copies for club subscribers will be sent to one or to separate addresses, as desired.] The Three Volumes unbound for $9.00; Volumes 1 and 2 unbound for $7.00, bound for $9.00; Volumes 1 and 2 bound, and subscription to Volume 3 for $12.00; Single Volumes, unbound $4.00, bound $5.00. Black cloth Covers for any volume of the Naturalist are supplied at 50 cents each. The printed label affixed to each number of the Naturalist sent direct from the office to subscribers shows the date which is covered by their subscriptions, and becomes a bill as soon as the date is past, without pre-payment of the next year's subscription. In this capacity, and as a receipt, it is designed to save annoyance and postage to both parties. The Editors will not be held responsible for any opinions expressed, unless given over their own signatures. Communications and subscriptions should be addressed to the Editors of the American Naturalist, SALEM, Mass. Remittances by mail at the risk of the sender, unless in the form of drafts on NEW YORK or BOSTON payable to the order of W. s. WEST; a Post-office Money Order, or in a Registered Letter. ESSEX INSTITUTE PRESS. THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. Vol. III.-APRIL, 1869. —No. 2. THE ABORIGINAL MOUND BUILDERS OF TENNESSEE. BY DR. JOSEPH JONES. WHEN the first Anglo-American pioneers, about the middle of the last century, explored the country east and north of the Tennessee River, the territory between the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers was a vast unoccupied wilderness. The rich valleys, hills and plains of Tennessee and Kentucky were crowded with a dense growth of forest trees and canes, and formed an extensive park, held permanently only by the beasts of the forest, and abounding with immense herds of buffalo, flocks of wild turkeys, droves of deer and innumerable bears. The nearest permanent Indian settlements were on the Sciota and Miami on the north, and on the waters of the Little Tennessee on the south; and from these points the warriors of the Miami Confederacy of the north, and the Choctaws, Chickasaws and Cherokees of the south issued to engage in hunting and war, in this great central theatre. At this period, by common agreement of all the surrounding tribes, this section of country, which, for its fertile soil, numerous rivers and abundant supply of fish and game, was admirably adapted to the settlement of savage tribes, appeared to have been reserved from permanent occupancy. That this country, in common with other portions of the Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by the PEABODY ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 8 (57) AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. III. great Valley of the Mississippi, was inhabited in ancient times by a comparatively dense population, who subsisted by the arts of husbandry, as well as by the chase, is evident from the numerous depositories of the dead in the caves and along the banks of the streams in the fertile valleys, and around the cool springs which abound in this limestone region, and from the imposing monumental remains and extensive earthworks. * In A considerable portion of the city of Nashville has been built over an extensive Indian graveyard, which lay along the valley of Lick Branch. A large portion of these graves have been removed in the building of North Nashville. this section of the city I saw a number of these stone graves, exposed during the digging of the cellars of a row of houses, and obtained a small stone hatchet, and another implement of hard, silicious stone, beautifully polished. This stone implement is supposed to have been used in the dressing of hides. All around the sulphur spring, traces of the aborigines are manifest in the form of fragments of large pots and various implements. It is supposed that this salt lick was frequented by the Indians for game and the manufacture of salt. Extensive fortifications, several miles in extent, enclosing two systems of mounds and numerous stone graves, lie along the Big Harpeth, about sixteen miles below Old Town, at * An extensive burying ground lies on the opposite bank of the Cumberland, directly across from the mouth of Lick Branch, and another about one and a half miles lower down; another at Cockrill's Spring, two and a half miles from the Sulphur Spring; another six miles from Nashville on the Charlotte Pike, and still another at Hayesborough. Numerous stone graves are also found on White's Creek, on the Dickerson Pike, nine miles from Nashville, and at Sycamore, twenty-two miles from Nashville, on the plantation of Colonel Överton, and in and around Brentwood, at the Boiling Springs, and on the plantation of Mr. Scales. Extensive Indian burying grounds are also found in White County, near Sparta, and along the various streams flowing into the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, as Harpeth, Duck, Elk and Stone Rivers. At the plantation of General DeGraffenreid, two and a half miles above Franklin, numerous stone graves are found within an extensive earthwork, which appears to have surrounded a considerable Indian town. One large square mound, 230 feet in diameter, together with a chain of smaller ones, are found within the ancient fortification, with mounds and stone graves. One of the most remarkable stone-grave burying grounds is found on the west fork of Big Harpeth, six and a half miles from Franklin, at a place called Old Town, the property of Mr. Thomas Brown. |