&6 Dr. Duncan on the Foot-marks of Animals 
sions—I. mean those of animals in the act. of ascending. 
Not many tracks, however, have been found, of which the 
prints are so well defined, and several of them belong evi- 
But there is another class of impressions which must be 
referred to the tracks of animals in. the act of decending the 
steep face of the stratum. . These are not less numerous than 
by the heels of their fore paws, and sometimes also a slight 
mark of their hind paws, which must have rested lightly on 
the surface, while the animals were sliding their fore paws 
alternately downward, and sinking them in the sand to secure 
Of both of those kinds of impressions, traces may at this 
moment be observed in the uncovered strata of the quarry, 
though there are none of a very striking character which have 
not been removed. The best specimins I have seen are in 
the summer-house at Ruthwell. si 
__ With regard to the species of animals whose tracks have 
been so wonderfully preserved, I am happy that as to three 
of them I can give the conjectures of a much more compe- 
tent judge than myself, one of the first. geologists 
trofessor Buckland, with whom I have been in correspon- 
bject, 
be ee 
possession, 
Sines ate cad aniaae of this spe- 
_ belong. cag 
Sere ~ “ith regard to the sliding impres- 
maruicular, he says that he fully adopts my theory 
