p.2

of our [illegible]. I have one skull
from the mounds in which the occi-
put is compressed, & consequently
the [illegible] are enormously en-
larged. But I defy any craniologist
to prove an artificial compression
in the skulls on which I found my
generalizations. There is a [illegible] in
the brain capacity, far below that of
the Indian, & I find that [illegible]-
[illegible] concurs with me.

I thank you for the interest which
you manifest in my pursuits. I want
some information as to the longevity
of our forest trees, such as grow on
our mounds & on the rubbish [illegible]
of L. [illegible]. Such as the white, black,
& jack-oak, the tulip tree, hemlock,
Spruce &c. I imagine that 600 years
would mark the [illegible] of most of them,
& that therefore they do not indicate the
absolute amount of time which has
lapsed as Schoolcraft & others, suppose.
Since these structures were abandoned,
I have no doubt that the conditions of soil
& climate have remained constant, but
there has been time enough for several
generations of trees to flourish.

Truly
J. W. F.

Dr. Lapham.
I have information as to the longevity of many
foreign trees, but not of our own.