The country between the southern boundary of the state and the Wisconsin, where that ricer rune from cast to west, is an irregular plain, elevated from 250 to 800 feet above the surface of the Missis sippi, and consists; of limestone which I. often rent by deep and nearly perpendicular chums of considerable depth, but little width. On the upper surface of the plain are numerous single hills rising from 200 to 500 feet above their bum, and from 600 to 1000 feet above the watercourse. which run in the chasms. The highest of these hills, called Blue Mound, not far from the left bank of the Wisconsin, is stated to be 1414 feet above the surface of the Mississippi at the mouth of Wisconsin River. The greater part of this region is a prairie destitute of wood, and generally covered with a good turf There are also many tracts overgrown with stunted oak and some other trees; but these woods have no underwood, and the single trees are generally from 10 to 20 feet from one another. In a few places the forests are more dense. The bottoms of the rivers run at a considerable depth below the general level of the country, especially that of the \Vi cousin, which resembles the bottom of the Missiseippi, but I. only from one mile to two miles wide.
The country along the shores of Lake Michigan has a different aapeet. The southern part, as far north as the small bay into which the river Milwaukee falls, is a portion of the great level and low plain which surrounds the southern extremity of the lake, and extends from St. Joseph's River to the Milwaukee. It is an extensive flat embracing woodlands and prairies alternating with each other. Far ther north the shores of the lake are skirted by high sand-bills, which sometimes extend inland, and are barren, but protect the more level and fertile country which is traversed by the Milwaukee and Mane wakes rivers against the winds blowing from the lake. North of 44° N. 1st, and up to Green Bay, the shores of the lake are somewhat rocky, uneven, and partly wooded. The country farther inland along the Fox River, and towards Winnebago Lake, has a considerable degree of fertility.
In tLe southern part of the state are numerous very remarkable remains of an unknown antiquity, the only records of the ancient inhabitants of the country. They consist of a series of tumuli, and are locally known as the Mounds. They are scattered over a wide area, but are most numerous along Rock, Wisconsin, Fox, and Pislitaka rivers, and in the vicinity of Lake Winnebago and the Four Lakes.
The most numerous of the mounds are of a circular and oblong form, similar to the sepulchral mounds which have been met with all over the globe; but besides these, and often placed without regard to regularity among them, are numerous others wholly unlike what are met with elsewhere. These are described as being of various sizes,
and constructed of various materials, but commonly of burnt clay. They all assume definite shapes, and, though rudely fashioned, are evidently intended to represent various quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, and occasionally man. One, nearBlue Mound, represents a man lying down, with his head towards the west, his feet to the east, and his legs and arms extended. It is 120 feet long, and about 6 feet high. A figure of a turtle is 56 feet long, and about 5 feet high. Some are said to represent buffaloes, eagles, lizards, &c.; and in a few instances they occur arranged in an irregular line as though the animals were following each other. At one spot, near the Four Lakes, about 100 of these mounds occur; those representing animals being placed among the plain ones without any apparent order. Fragments of ancient pottery are frequently found in the same neighbourhood. (' Silliman's Journal,' vols. xxxiv. and xliv.) The Mississippi, which forms the western boundary of the state from the junction of the St. Croix, is noticed in a separate article. [Misstssirri, RIVER. All All the more important rivers of the state fall into the Mississippi. The Wisconsin, from -which the name of the state is derived, flows from some lakes north of 45° N. lat., and runs above 200 miles in a generally southern direction to Portage, when it turns to the south-west and west, and, after a further course of 114 miles, falls into the Mississippi near Prairie do Chien. When swollen by a freshet it affords an easy navigation for steam-boats of consider able burden up to Portage, and boats of light draft usually find sufficient water. Above Portage are numerous rapids, which afford water-power to a great number of saw-mills. At Portage is a depres sion, or portage, of one mile and a half, across a fiat meadow, which is occasionally subject to inundation, to the Fox River of Green Bay, thus affording a communication between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, through which boats have been known to pass. The current in the lower part of the river is rapid, and liko the Missis sippi it contains numerous islands : when the water is low, the naviga tion is obstructed by shoals and sand-banks. Works have been for some time in progress for the purpose of improving the navigation of the Wisconsin, and of rendering available its communication with Lake Michigan.