200 Dr DUNCAN on the Foot-marks of Quadrupeds 



merely used to keep it steady ; so that the comparative slight- 

 ness of these impressions is just what might have been antici- 

 pated. It may be proper to mention, that the block from which 

 this specimen was taken was but a few feet in length, and con- 

 tained two other sliding impressions, precisely similar to those 

 which I carried away, affording the strongest conviction to my 

 mind that they were a continuation of the same track. I have 

 in my possession other specimens of similar prints, taken from 

 a different part of the quarry, one of which I transmit * ; but 

 these are not so deep, and I have in vain endeavoured to disco- 

 cover any depressions in them corresponding to those which I 

 take to be made by the hind-feet of this animal. It is probable 

 that in these instances the weight with which the hind-feet rested 

 on the surface was too little to make a durable impression on 

 the sand in its half indurated state. 



I persuade myself that a simple inspection of the casts and 

 specimens I transmit along with this, will be sufficient to satis- 

 fy any reasonable inquirer that the cavities they contain are 

 the actual foot-marks of quadrupeds, and justify me, without 

 farther proof, in having assumed them to be so ; but should any 

 doubts on the subject remain, I must refer to the quarry itself, 

 where several specimens are still left exposed, and others are oc- 

 casionally uncovered, of a nature to remove all scepticism, though 

 it is greatly to be regretted that so many of the very finest have, 

 by the carelessness of the quarrymen, who regarded them as of 

 no value, been utterly destroyed. 



One of the tracks still to be found in the quarry is too re- 

 markable to be passed over without notice, being considerably- 

 larger than any of those I have mentioned. The prints are so 

 much filled up, indeed, as to leave the shape of the foot unde- 

 fined ; but yet the nature of these impressions cannot be mis- 



* Specimen marked A. 



