A/3Y. 
56 REPORT—1849. 
the superposition of the new red sandstone on the coal-measures, the beds of the latter 
dipping gently tothe south, and the former resting on them with apparent conforma- 
bility. He believed that here would be found the true upper beds of the coal- 
measures, and the lowest beds of the red sandstone, as deposited in that district, but 
doubted the existence of any beds of passage from one into the other. 
As a practical conclusion, he stated that while there was every hope that profitable 
coal-beds lay beneath the larger part of the new red sandstone plain of the Midland 
Counties and Cheshire, it would not be advisable rashly to commence a search for them, 
nor without competent direction and advice; that this advice and direction might 
eventually be hoped for from the Geological Survey of Great Britain under Sir H. De 
la Beche. He-likewise added, that if he were now asked to fix a limit of depth at which 
the coal was probably to be attained beneath the new red sandstone, he should say jive 
or six hundred yards was the least depth the speculator would probably have to sink 
for it. 
On Traces of a Fossil Reptile (Sauropus primevus) found in the Old Red Sand- 
stone. By Isaac Lua of Philadelphia. (Communicated by Dr. Buckuann.) 
The cbject of this communication is to announce to the Society that I have discovered 
the footprints in bas-relief of a reptilian quadruped lower in the series than has yet 
been observed. On the 5th of April last, in the examination of the strata in the gorge 
of the Sharp Mountain, near Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where the Schuylkill breaks 
through it, a large mass of remarkably fine old red sandstone attracted my attention. 
Upon it I was astonished to find six distinct impressions of footmarks in a double row 
of tracks, each mark being duplicated by the hind-foot falling into the impression 
of the fore-foot, but rather more advanced. The strata here are tilted a little over 
the vertical, and the surface of rock exposed was about 12 feet by 6 feet, the whole 
of which surface was covered with ripple-marks and the pits of rain-drops beautifully 
displayed in the very fine texture of the deep red sandstone. 
The six double impressions distinctly show, in the two parallel rows formed by the 
left feet on the one side and the right feet on the other, that the animal had five toes 
on the fore-feet, three of which toes were apparently armed with unguinal appendages. 
The length of the double impression is 44 inches; the breadth 4 inches; the distance 
apart in the length of the step of the animal 13 inches; across, from outside to out- 
side, 8 inches. The mark of the dragging of the tail is distinct, and occasionally 
slightly obliterates a small part of the impressions of the footmarks. The ripple- 
marks are 7 to 8 inches apart, and very distinct, as well as the pits of the rain-drops. 
The footmarks assimilate remarkably to those of the recent Alligator Mississippi- 
ensis, and are certainly somewhat analogous to the Chetrotherium. 
The geological position of this reptilian quadruped is of great interest, from the 
fact that no such animal remains have heretofore been discovered so low in the series. 
Those described by Dr. King, in the great western coal-field, are only 800 feet below 
the surface of the coal formation (No. 13 of Prof. Rogers, the State Geologist). The 
position of the Pottsville footmarks is about 8500 feet below the upper part of the coal 
formation there, which is about 6750 feet, according to Prof. Rogers, and they are in 
the red shale (his No. 11); the intermediate siliceous conglomerate (No. 12) being 
stated by him to be 1031 feet thick. These measurements would bring these foot- 
marks about 700 feet below the surface of the old red sandstone. 
A mass of coal plants exists immediately on the northern face (upper) of the 
heavy conglomerate, here tilted ten degrees over the vertical, and forming the crest 
or “‘back-bone” of Sharp Mountain. This conglomerate mass is about 150 feet thick 
at the western side of the road below Pottsville. On the same road-side, about 1735 
feet from these coal plants (south and directly across the stratification), is the face 
of the rock tilted slightly over the vertical and facing to the north. It is proper to 
state that the limestone of the old red sandstone exists here, about 2 feet thick, and 
underlies these ‘‘ footmarks 65 feet.” 
On a New Species of Labyrinthodon from the New Red Sandstone of War- 
wickshire. By G. Luoyn, M.D., F.G.S. 
After stating the unfrequent occurrence of the remains of this extinct genus of 
reptiles, more especially of other parts of the body than of the head, and having shown 

