. 50 



Statements so called were made, any clear thought in relation to 

 the discussion referred to. Indeed, so uncomfortable to me are 

 questions generally upon priority of claims in discovery, that my 

 mind naturally is repulsed from their consideration. I am very 

 doubtful whether I ever read ' until the present occasion moved 

 me to it, the discussion which it is now implied I have a wish to 

 revive. Certainly I had but a vague recollection of it. But I 

 pass to a consideration of the statements themselves. What were 

 they that such notice should have been taken of them ? In the 

 remarks made by me upon the death of Dr. Deane, and prepara- 

 tory to the introduction of resolutions expressive of the loss which 

 the Society had sustained, I used the following language : — 



" But it is in his character as a Naturalist, that we, members of 

 the Society, feel the most interest. None of us I am sure can be 

 unmindful of his labors in working out and faithfully portraying 

 the remarkable impressions of the rocks of the Connecticut Val- 

 ley, or of his yet more valuable and instructive observations upon 

 these interesting mementos of past life. Whatever may be said 

 of others who have honorably worked in the same field, this I 

 think may be truly stated of Dr. Deane, that the first scientific 

 observations upon the footprints were made by him. Years have 

 since passed, — yes, nearly a quarter of a century has gone by since 

 he first called attention to these impressions ; but yet though 

 absorbed much in the duties of his profession, he never lost his 

 interest in them. To his mind, nurtured as it had become by 

 their study, questions of important moment depended upon their 

 full elucidation, and certainly he exhibited an untiring devotion 

 in his labors towards the accomplishment of this end." 



Now I will take it for granted, that the only passage in this 

 extract to which exception could possibly be made is this, — 

 " Whatever may be said of others, who have honorably worked 

 in the same field, this I think may be truly stated of Dr. Deane, 

 that the first scientific observations upon the footprints were 

 made by him." 



Now I wish to state that here, as well as elsewhere, I recog- 

 nize that there may be scientific observations upon Geological 

 phenomena of most important character made by such as have no 

 knowledge of the science of Geology itself. If a comparative 

 anatomist, having no knowledge whatever of Geology, should be 



