306 



a foot in length, and seven inches in breadth. The first of them 

 is very distinct, and is directed to the lower part of the slab ; 

 the 2d and 3d are nearly on the same line. They possess three 

 toes and a thumb-like appendage, which is set on the inner edge 

 of the impression. This thumb is more distinct in the first- 

 mentioned impression than in the two others, but undoubtedly 

 existed in all three. [The same thumb-like appendage is seen 

 in two consecutive impressions of the Otozoum Moodii of Presi- 

 dent Hitchcock, now in my possession.] At the first view, these 

 tracks have the appearance of a human foot ; but, on closer 

 examination, they are found to vary from this apparent form, 

 and to approach to that of some quadruped, and even, in some 

 respects, to the ornithichnite form. There is a groove in the 

 direction of the footsteps one sixth of an inch wide, extending 

 from the upper edge of the slab to the posterior part of the upper 

 impression ; from the anterior part of the upper impression to 

 the posterior part of the second ; from the anterior part of the 

 second to the posterior part of the lowest impression, there is 

 some interruption ; from the anterior part of the lowest impres- 

 sion the groove runs to the edge of the slab, showing a continuity 

 of the line in the direction of a fourth impression. On the whole, 

 the groove runs in the direction of the three impressions, and is 

 seven and a half feet in length. 



Besides these, there is an impression of a large size, very 

 distinct and very beautiful. It has three toes, all the articulations 

 of which are better defined than in any other slab of the same 

 kind. This impression is thirteen inches long by eight inches 

 wide, and appears to be ornithic. 



The stone on which these marks are engraved is a beautiful, 

 shiny, brown shale, very thin, and in some places cracked, so 

 that it is necessary to inclose it carefully in a frame. 



These two remarkable slabs are in my possession, and will 

 probably be described more fully hereafter. 



Dr. Hayes announced the discovery of a second or alter- 

 nating bed of coal, at the Albert Mine in New Brunswick, and 

 exhibited specimens of the coal. A careful examination of the 

 special geology of this mine, at the time of the celebrated trial, 



