106 [June, 



chara, from the Eqpene of Alabama," wliich being intended for publica- 

 tion in the Proceedings, was referred to Dr. Rand, Mr. Charles E. Smith 

 and Dr. Ruschenberger. 



Dr. Woodhouse presented a paper, intended for publication, describing 

 a new species of Sciurus ; which was referred to a Committee consisting 

 of Dr. Watson, Dr. Leidy and Major LeConte. 



Mr. Lea called attention to the stone slab containing supposed im- 

 prints of human feet, deposited by him this evening. This slab is from 

 the limestone formation immediately underlying the coal near Alton, 

 Illinois. The impressions have evidently been sculptured, and bear the 

 marks of some blunt instrument with which they have been executed. 

 Mr. Lea observed that these are not the first instances of this kind, 

 which have been noticed, and referred to a description of a similar slab 

 published in Silliman's Journal several years since. 



Dr. Owen stated that the slab of limestone alluded to by Mr. Lea as found 

 on the Mississippi near St. Louis, is the same which is now preserved in his 

 (Dr. Owen's) collection, and the one on which two articles have appeared in 

 Silliman's Journal ; one by Mr. Schoolcraft and one by himself. At the con- 

 clusion of this latter article, entitled " Human footprints in solid limestone," it 

 was given as his opinion that these feetraarks were carved on the rock by the 

 aborigines. 



Since that article appeared. Dr. Owen had obtained the most satisfactory cor- 

 roboration of this inference in two large slabs of magnesian limestone, of lower 

 Silurian date, obtained at Moccasin-track Prairie, in Missouri, which slabs con- 

 tained a great many carvings of human feet, as well as those of animals, and 

 rude imitations of the human figure, something like figures made in gingerbread. 

 The footmarks bear indubitable tool marks, and some are deficient in the true 

 number of toes, while, in others, the foot is distorted, with the little toe stand- 

 ing out almost at right angles. 



These specimens, as well as that of Mr. Lea, show clearly that the aborigines 

 of Missouri had the same propensity for carving the imprint of feet, as the 

 Southern and Western aborigines of this continent had for representing the 

 hand on the walls of the ancient edifices, and in other situations. 



Any one acquainted with Indians knows that there is no subject which they 

 study more closely than all kinds of tracks : in fact their life, their maintenance 

 and the whole security of the savage depends on an intimate and cunning know- 

 ledge of podology. 



Dr. Owen intends giving, at some future time, a more detailed description of 

 these slabs of magnesian limestone from Moccasin-track Prairie, which are, 

 probably, the most interesting specimens of the kind ever yet discovered. 



Mr. Lea exhibited specimens of shells from the drift on the line of 

 the Columbia Railroad, about three miles from Philadelphia. These 

 are the first organic remains of this kind found in this vicinity, Mr. 

 Lea believed them to have been unquestionably derived from the forma- 

 tion No. 2 of the Pennsylvania Survey. Although much mutilated, 

 they can be classified. 



Dr. Leidy called attention to a fossil tooth of Tapir presented by Dr. 

 Hays. This is the only portion of the animal known. He proposed for 

 it the name of Tapirus Haysii. 



