found in Corncockle Mnir, Dumfries-shire. 307 



of between thirteen apd fourteen inches, which is considerably 

 more, however, than would have been the case if the animal 

 had not been moving. If we compare this with the distance 

 jbetween the line of the right and left feet, (which is, as to the 

 fore-paws, nearly 6| incites*, and as to the hind paws somcr 

 |.hing more than 7| inches,) we shall see that an extraordinary 

 tiiickness of the animal's body, in proportion to its length, is 

 clearly indicated. 



This description may be considered as applying, in its gene- 

 ral features, to a considerable number of the impressions — I 

 mean those of animals in the act of ascending. Not many 

 tracts, however, have been found, of which the prints are so 

 well defined, and several of them belong evidently to animals 

 of different species. I am myself acquainted with five or six 

 varieties Avhich are clearly distinguishable — the largest of them 

 indicating a quadruped of such considerable magnitude, that 

 the distance between the impression of the hind foot and that 

 of the corresponding fore foot, is more, if I am not greatly mis- 

 taken, than a yard and a half. 



But there is another class of impressions which must be re- 

 ferred to the tracts of animals in the act of descending the 

 steep face of the stratum. These are not less numerous than 

 the other, but, for an obvious reason, they are not so easily recog- 

 nized to be the prints of feet. The steep face of the stratum 

 has caused the animals to slide in their descent, so that in most 

 instances nothing is observable but the rut made by the heels 

 of their fore paws, and sometimes also a slight mark of their 

 hind paws, which must have rested lightly on the surface, while 

 the animals were sliding their fore paws alternately down- 

 ward, and sinking them in the sand to secure their footing. 



Of both of those kinds of impressions, traces may at this 

 moment be observed in the uncovered strata of the quarry, 

 though there are none of a very striking character which have 

 not been removed. The best specimens I have seen are in thp 

 summer-house at Ruthwell. 



With regard to the species of animajs whose tracts have 

 been so wonderfully preserved, I am happy that as to three 

 of them I can give the conjectures of a much more competent 

 judge than myself, one of the first geologists of the age, Pro- 



