Animals Before Man 



as the liind feet trod nearly in the imj^ressions 

 of the fore feet ; the prints were hand-like, 

 that of the fore foot five-fingered and 4 inches 

 broad ; that of the hind foot somewhat smaller 

 and four-fingered. That the amphibian was 

 therefore large is also evident from the length 

 of the stride, which was 13 inches, and the 

 breadth between the onter edges of the foot- 

 prints 8 inches. There is also a distinct im- 

 pression of a tail an inch or more wide. The 

 slab is also crossed by a few distinct ripple- 

 marks (8 or 9 inches apart), which are par- 

 tially obliterated by the tread. The whole 

 surface, including the footprints, is covered 

 throughout with rain-drop impressions. We 

 thus learn that in the region about Pottsville a 

 mud-flat was left by the retreating waters, per- 

 haps those of an ebbing tide, covered with rip- 

 ple-marks ; that the ripples were still fresh 

 when a large amphibian crossed the flat ; that 

 a brief shower of rain followed, dotting with 

 its drops the half-dried mud ; that the waters 

 again flowed over the flat, making new deposits 

 of detritus, and so buried the records." 



114 



