Dawson on the Jootprints of Limulus. 



275 



duce all the appearances observed in the climactichnites, it would 

 be necessary that the animal should not trail its tail along the 

 sand, and that the swimming feet should be broad and powerful, 

 and have considerable mobility from side to side. I may also 

 state that at Orchard Beach I was puzzled for some time by 

 small cliraactichnite-like (racks on the beach, and at length as- 

 certained that they were made by a large beetle ^ which occa- 

 sionally settled on the wet sand, and crept for some distance on 

 its surface, apparently making the transverse tracks by means of 

 its tarsi. 



Fig. 4. 



The Limulus burrows in soft sand with great ease. It inserts 

 the sharp anterior edge of the cephalo-thorax under the sand like 

 a plough-share, and labouring vigourously with the broad toes of 

 the posterior thoracic feet, throws out sand behind, while it pene- 

 trates more deeply in front, at the same time jerking the caudal 

 spine. When nearly buried it presents the singular appearance 

 represented in Fig 4. When it has completely buried itself, it 

 slightly elevates the body and causes the sand to fall off on all 

 sides, so that when it subsides, only a very slight, smooth eleva- 

 tion marks the spot where it is concealed. The form of the ce- 



* I suppose Melolontha (Polyphylla) variolosa. 



