The discovery of similar relics to the north of the Great Lakes is still more calculated to excite interest; and, indeed, when first brought under notice they gave rise to extravagant ethnological theories, based on the assumption of their East Indian origin.[55] But though they furnished no evidence of such far wanderings from the old East, they throw considerable light on ancient migrations of native American races, and illustrate the extent of traffic carried on between the north and south, in ages prior to the displacement of the Red-man by the European. Two large tropical shells, both specimens of the _Pyrula perversa_, have been presented to the Canadian Institute at Toronto: not as examples of the native conchology of the tropics, but as Indian relics pertaining to the great northern chain of fresh-water lakes. The first was discovered on opening a grave-mound at Nottawasaga, on the Georgian Bay, along with a gorget made from the same kind of shell; the second was brought from the Fishing Islands, near Cape Hurd, on Lake Huron. Thirteen other examples from the Georgian Bay are in the Museum of Laval University; and many more have come under my notice procured from grave-mounds and sepulchral depositories in different parts of Western Canada. Recently, in the summer of 1874, a large ossuary of the Tiontonones, or Petuns, was accidentally opened at Lake Medad, in the county of Wentworth, within which were found evidences of extensive sepulture, numerous clay and stone pipes of curious workmanship, shell and stone implements, and a number of the same tropical shells, both whole and in pieces, most of which are now in the possession of Mr. B. E. Charlton of Hamilton, Ontario. Similar ossuaries have been repeatedly opened in the Huron Country, between Lake Simcoe and the Georgian Bay. In one pit, about seven miles from Penetanguishene, three large conch-shells were found, along with twenty-six copper kettles, a pipe, a copper bracelet, a quantity of shell beads, and numerous other relics. The largest of the shells, a specimen of the _Pyrula spirata_, weighed three pounds and a quarter, and measured fourteen inches in length; but a piece had been cut off this, as well as another of the large shells, probably for the manufacture of some smaller ornament. In another cemetery in the same district, among copper arrow-heads, bracelets, and ear-ornaments, pipes of stone and clay, beads of porcelain, red pipe-stone, etc., sixteen of the same prized tropical univalves lay round the bottom of the pit arranged in groups of three or four together. From such shells the sacred wampum, official gorgets, and other special decorations were made; and the appearance of some of those found in northern graves suggests that they may have been handed down through successive generations as great medicines, before their final deposition, with other rare and costly offerings, in honour of the dead.