FOSSIL FOOTSTEPS. 429 



ORGANIC REMAINS OF THE UPPER NEW HED SANDSTONE. 

 We have already observed that the dull red colour pre- 

 valent in strata of this formation is derived from an oxide of 

 iron, and it has been noticed as a striking fact, that all 

 deposits in which this iron prevails are deficient in fossils ; 

 thus the new red sandstone exhibits a remarkable paucity 

 of organic remains as contrasted with the oolite and lias. 

 In Germany, where this group is largely developed, the 

 calcareous strata, especially the muschelkalk, are compara- 

 tively rich in organic remains. Of plants, several Cycadece, 

 and various genera of ferns, with Voltzia, Albertia, and JSqui- 

 setum, have been collected by Count Minister ; of Mollusca, 

 the Posidonia minuta and Avicula socialis, with Ammonites 

 of the form called Ceratite, have been discovered in these 

 strata. It is, however, remarked that the red sandstone is 

 relatively deficient in fossils ; and that the organic remains 

 chiefly occur in the argillaceous and calcareous beds. 



FOSSIL FOOTMARKS. The impression of footmarks of a 

 peculiar character, occurring both in this country and in 

 Germany, have formed a most interesting subject of inquiry. 

 Imprints had been observed in strata of this formation, in 

 some quarries at the village of Hesseberg, near Hildburg- 

 hausen, in Saxony, and were referred to a large unknown 

 quadruped, which, from the resemblance of the markings 

 to those of a human hand, were provisionally named, by 

 Professor Kaup, Chirotherium, or hand-beast, which was 

 supposed by him to have been allied to the Marsupialia, 

 since in the kangaroo the first toe of the fore-foot is set 

 obliquely to the others, like a thumb (fig. 292). 



The larger impressions, which seem to be those of the 

 hind foot, are usually eight inches in length and five in 

 breadth. At about an inch and a half before this impression 

 a smaller print of a fore-foot, four inches long and three 

 inches wide, occurs. The footmarks follow each other in 

 pairs, each pair in the same line, at an interval of fourteen 

 inches between each pair. Both the large and the small 

 steps show the great toe alternately on the right and left side ; 

 each step makes the print of five toes, the first or great toe 

 being bent inwards like a thumb. Though the fore and 

 hind feet differ so considerably in size, they are nearly 

 similar in form. 



