15 
gave the name of Chirotherium, from the resemblance 
to the impressions of the human hand. On a subse- 
quent examination, Prof. Owen preferred the name of 
Labyrinthodon, from the resemblance of the folds in 
the teeth to the convolutions of the brain. 
Various other instances of impressions were seen ; 
and, in the year 1835, Dr. Deane and Mr. Marsh, resi- 
dents of Greenfield, noticed impressions resembling 
the feet of birds in sandstone rocks of that neighbor- 
hood. ‘These observations having come to the know- 
ledge of President Hitchcock, of Amherst College, 
that gentleman began a thorough investigation of the 
subject, followed it up with unremitted ardor, and 
has, since 1836 (the date of his first publication), laid 
before the public a great amount of ichnological infor- 
mation, and really created a new science. Dr. Deane, 
on his part, has not been idle: besides making valua- 
ble discoveries, he has written a number of excellent 
papers to record some portion of his numerous 
observations. 
In 1837, at the request of my friend Dr. Boott, I 
carried to London, for the Museum of the Royal 
College of Surgeons, various scientific objects peculiar 
to this country; among which were a number of casts 
of Ornithichnites. 
These casts were kindly furnished me by President 
