Chirotherium Herculis. 151 



Storeton, that their true nature was suspected. The exact locality, 

 at which the specimens were discovered, is not known ; but it is pro- 

 bable, that they were obtained from the neighbourhood of Colonel 

 Egerton's residence, near Tarporley, and from one of the beds of 

 sandstone, which alternate with the red and green marls in the upper 

 part of the new red system in that part of Cheshire. 



The casts, which consist of a rather soft and coarse sandstone, 

 were evidently formed in the impressions of two hind feet ; and 

 thouo-h they have suffered from exposure to the weather for twelve 

 years, yet they are sufficiently perfect to have enabled Sir Philip 

 Eo-erton to take the measurements of the diiFerent parts, and draw 

 up the accompanying comparative table. It is necessary to state, 

 that though he preserves the use of the term thumb for the conve- 

 nience of comparison with previous descriptions, yet he is of opinion 

 that the marginal digit which has been so designated, is not the re- 

 presentative of the fifth, but of the first toe. 



Large Chi- 



Hessberg .Storeton rotherium 



Direction of the Measurements. Chirothe. Chirothe. from near 



rium. rium. Tarporley. 



Length from the heel to the point of tlie \ 7 3 8 7 15 



2nd toe J 



Length from the heel to the point of the X ^ ^ 43 § q 



thumb i 



Length from the heel to the angle between 14 8^,56 100 



the 1st and 2nd toes J 



2nd and 3rd toes 4 4 .. 5 8 ., 11 



3rd and 4th toes 4 0.. 5 3 . . 11 



Greatest breadth across the insertions o{\ ^ ^ ^ ^ g^ 



the toes J 



Breadth from the point of the thumb toT^^ ^q ^ q 



4tli toe J 



Breadth from the thumb to point of 4th toe 6 3.. 6 .. 10 6 

 Breadth across the sole below the thumb .. 36.. 30.. 60 

 Breadth from 1st toe-point to 4th toe-point 4 6 .. 4 6 .. 9 



From these measurements it appears, that considerable differences 

 exist in the three specimens of Chirotherium. Upon comparing the 

 footstep from Hessberg with that from Storeton, it will be found, that 

 the former is thicker and more clumsy than the latter ; that the sole 

 is shorter and broader, and the toes wider and longer. The most 

 important discrepancy, however, is in the position of the thumb, 

 which is placed much nearer the heel in the Hessberg specimens 

 than in those from Storeton. The cast from near Tarporley re- 

 sembles the latter more than the former ; it nevertheless differs con- 

 siderably in the proportion of the breadth to the length of the sole, 

 which is greater; and in the proportions of the length of the toes to the 

 length of the sole, which is less than in the Storeton specimens. It 

 is also distinguished by the greater divergence of the toes from each 

 other. From these differences and the gigantic size of the Tarporley 

 specimen, the author conceives that the animal which made the im- 

 pression was a distinct species ; and he proposes for it, in compli- 

 ance with the adage ex pede Herculem, the name of Chirotherium 

 Herculis. 



