The result of my perlustration and perscontation of this isoperimetrical

protuberance is a belief that it is one of those rare and wonderful

creations left by the Mound Builders. The fact that this one is

lamellibranchiate in its formation, simply adds to its interest as being

possibly of a different kind from any we read of in the records of

science, but yet in no manner marring its authenticity. Let the

megalophonous grasshopper sound a blast and summon hither the perfunctory

and circumforaneous Tumble-Bug, to the end that excavations may be made

and learning gather new treasures."

Not a Tumble-Bug could be found on duty, so the Mound was excavated by a

working party of Ants. Nothing was discovered. This would have been a

great disappointment, had not the venerable Longlegs explained the

matter. He said:

"It is now plain to me that the mysterious and forgotten race of Mound

Builders did not always erect these edifices as mausoleums, else in this

case, as in all previous cases, their skeletons would be found here,

along with the rude implements which the creatures used in life. Is not

this manifest?"

True! true!" from everybody.

Then we have made a discovery of peculiar value here; a discovery which

greatly extends our knowledge of this creature in place of diminishing

174

Sketches New and Old