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166 Fossil Footprints of the Connecticut Valley. 



Turners Falls, a specimen of Ornithichnites giganteus of stupen- 

 dous proportions, the impression being no less than eighteen inches 

 or half a yard in length, from the outer circumference of the tarso- 

 metatarsal bone to the extremity of the central toe, and fourteen 

 inches between the extremities of the lateral toes. The line of 

 footsteps uncovered consisted of seven successive impressions, all 

 of the same colossal dimensions; but three of them were suffi- 

 ciently strong to be removed without being shivered to pieces. 

 The impressions of the shank bone and of the several articula- 

 tions of the toes are quite distinct, and each impression is suffi- 

 ciently capacious to contain half a gallon of water. What was 

 the real magnitude of this fearful bird ? He maintained his su- 

 premacy throughout the entire period of the new red sandstone 

 deposition, while other varieties, though gigantic and powerful, 

 became extinct. He was endowed with a physical frame fitted 

 to endure the turbulence of the era in which he reigned the su- 

 preme monarch of his race, and was finally exterminated only 

 by the all-prevailing catastrophes that swept from the earth other 



vast creatures which were his cotemporaries but not his con- 

 querors. 



Among these discoveries are two new varieties or Ornithich- 

 nites. One of them six inches in length is remarkable for the ex- 

 tension of the outer or long toe backward, three of the four joints 

 being posterior to the first joint of the middle toe, which is 

 anomalous. The slab contains a right and left impression. I 

 have also discovered a row of singular impressions which I sup- 

 pose to be those of a crustacean. They are about one inch and 

 a half in length by half an inch in breadth, rounded at the ex- 

 tremities, shallow, but exquisitely perfect. They are placed ob- 

 liquely, but are parallel with each other, and in this respect re- 

 semble one of the rows in Prof. Hitchcock's plate, published in 

 this Journal, Vol. xlvii. I had not seen these plates at the time 

 I discovered the specimen ; and 1 broke it from the rock without 

 any idea of the origin of the impressions, and unfortunately only 

 removed a single row. I have since searched for its locality with 

 great care, but have been unsuccessful in discovering the precise 

 spot whence I obtained it. 



Since the preceding remarks were written out, the quarrymen 

 m my employment have recovered several interesting slabs at 

 Turner's Falls, containing beautiful impressions of rain-drops, 



