320 ' OrnitJiichnology. 



cause the layer of rock now laid bare^ is either above or below that 

 on which the bird originally trod. The foot is twelve inches long, 

 and the step varies from forty two to forty five inches. The small- 

 ness of the foQt may result merely from the situation of the layer 

 containing it ; in the manner that has been already explained. Yet 

 as the length of the step is also less than four feet, I conclude these 

 tracks to have been made by the young of O. ingens^ or by a dif- 

 ferent species of the same genus. 



The O. ingens, has been found only at the Horse Race. Several 

 of these impressions^ brought from the same place, may be seen on 

 the side walks in Deerfield. 



O. diversus: Three toed, with a hairy appendage in the rear; 

 length of the foot, exclusive of the hairy appendage, from two to six 

 Inches ; length of the step, from eight to twenty one inches. 



Under this species, I have embraced a great variety of specimens; 

 because I could not draw between them so definite a line of demar- 

 cation, as would be desirable. The two followin^j varieties, howev- 

 er, are too distinct to be passed unnoticed ; and I have httle doubt, 

 that they were produced by distinct species of birds- Indeed, I 

 am persuaded that several species must have been concerned in ma- 

 king all the foot marks, that I have grouped together under this 

 species. 



a darns. Foot, exclusive of the hairy appendage, from four to 

 six inches long. Toes generally somewhat approximate and acu- 

 minate ; inner tofe shorter than the outer one. Hairy appendage 

 very distinct, from two to three inches long ; perhaps a knobbed heel. 

 Step from eighteen to twenty five inches. Found in the south west 

 part of Montague ; also at the Horse Race, and probably also m 

 Northampton, and at South Hadley canal. The specimens from 

 Montague and Gill, are sometimes exceedingly distinct, so as to ar- 

 rest the attention of every one. Fig. 22, exhibits one from the 

 former place of the natural size. I have represented it in relief, be- 

 cause I found I could thus make the drawing more distinct. 



Fig. 17, is a sketch of several tracks of this variety, on a slab ot 

 red naicaceous sandstone, between three and four feet square, irom 

 Montague, now in my possession. The impressions are exceeding- 

 ly distinct and striking, and appear to have been made by two birds 

 walking side by side, at the distance of eighteen inches ; one of 

 them, taking steps two feet long, and the other, but eighteen inches. 

 In the right hand row, a third step just begins to appear on the mar- 



