Prof. Hitchcock on Ichnolithology - or Fossil Footmarks. 307 



leads me to remark, that I fear the terms Ornithoidichnites and 

 Sauroidichmtes convey an impression of a wider distinction than 

 exists between these two subdivisions. For in fact they pass in- 

 sensibly into each other, and, with a few exceptions, all probably 

 were made by the same tribe of animals. 



The next new species I have to propose, is a very distinct, 

 though very anomalous one. I call it a Sauroidichnites, because 

 it has somewhat the aspect of the foot of a Saurian ; and yet it 



rail five* 11 " 66 ^^ Where3S * ^^^ *"* &1WayS ^ and gene - 



Sauroidichnites abnormis. Toes three, all directed forward • 

 the lateral ones diverging about 30° and connected by a base two 

 inches long, the base and the inner toe appearing like a single 

 cent toe : middle toe with a deep impression along its anterior 



posterior part. Heel 



extending backwards nearly an inch, on a line with the outer 

 oe. Length of the middle toe, nearly three inches ; of the foot 

 our inches ; and of the step, eighteen inches. Fig. 6 shows the 

 "gnt foot, and fig. 7 the left foot. 



This remarkable track was found by Dr. Deane at the same 

 Pace as the specimens already referred to, viz. a little above Tur- 

 . er S aIIs in Gill. It is very distinctly impressed upon a gray, 

 perfectly smooth, micaceous sandstone ; and fortunately there are 

 **eral tracks showing the right and left foot most distinctly. 

 ^ rst, I thought it was probably a perfect example of the Sau- 

 Micfmites tenuissimus, described in my F^* 1 i*-~»* ^ ™u;~u 

 Possess only imperfect specimens. But it 

 the m out identical. 



,^ Anomalous as is this track, there is a fact still more anomalous, 

 e very distinct specimens before me. In two instances, and 

 lie ese are al * that I possess, while the middle toe of the left foot 

 f S m the direction in which the animal moved, that of the right 

 8 * turned nearly 45° towards the left hand, as is shown on fig. 

 > * ich was copied by a pentagraph from the specimens. Had 



posed 1 " 18 " 131 inflection existed in both feet > * shou: " " 

 be w °^ tne species. But nature is not so 



ttyi a P ecuna rity upon one organ, and withhold 



We b rgaU " • And * sus P ect that the animal 's right foot might 



een injured, so as to give it an inflected position ! 



♦ 



Report 

 possible 



as 





