226 [December, 1842. 



these representations of feet, is, however, a fact thoroughly 

 established in geology. 



Setting aside, then, the possibility of referring the origin 

 of these foot prints to the period of the formation of the 

 rock, there is quite as little warrant for assigning it to any 

 later period posterior to the upheaval and denudation of 

 the stratum, for there are no facts connected with this, or 

 any other of our ancient secondary rocks, which indicate 

 that they retained their plastic condition after they were 

 drained, to so late a date as ihe human epoch. 



Guided by these and other considerations of similar 

 purport, your Committee express their conviction, that the 

 arguments detailed in the paper submitted to them do not 

 at all weaken the published proofs of the artificial nature 

 of the supposed foot prints. 



On motion of Dr. Goddard, the communication of Mr. 

 Browne, referred to in the above report, was ordered to be 

 placed on file. 



STATED MEETING, December 20, 1842. 

 Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



DONATIONS TO MUSEUM. 

 Specimens, in spirits, of Monitor ornatus, of Monitor - 



of Crocodilus , and of Chamasleo gracilis, Hallo- 

 well, (male) from Western Africa. 



Also a dried specimen of Tetrodon . from Western 



Africa ; and a specimen, in spirits, of Coluber coccineus, 

 from Mobile, Alabama. From Mr. John Cassin. 



A portion of Fossilized Wood from Northern Mexico. 

 From Mr. McKnight, through Mr. Lukens. 



The following Shells were presented through Mr. Phillips 

 by Dr. J. C. Jay, of New York : 



