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PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



As a result of this and other efforts, the State of Massa- 

 chusetts commissioned him to make a geological survey of her 

 territory in 1830. Three years were spent in the explorations, 

 and the work was of such a high character that other States 

 were induced to follow the example of Massachusetts, and 

 similar surveys were organized in Tennessee, Maryland, New 

 Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hamp- 

 shire, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Michigan, 

 Indiana, Kentucky, and Georgia. The State of New York 

 sought his advice in the organization of a survey, and followed 

 his suggestions, particularly in the division of the territory 

 into four parts, and appointed him as the geologist of the first 

 district. He entered upon the work, but after a few days of 

 labour he found that he must necessarily be separated from 

 his family, much to his disinclination. He also conceived the 

 idea of urging a more thorough survey of his own State ; hence 

 he resigned his commission and returned home. The effort for 

 a resurvey of Massachusetts was successful, and he was re- 

 commissioned to do the work. The results appeared in 1841 

 and 1844 the first a quarto report and the last the geolog- 

 ical coloration of a map based upon Borden's Trigonometrical 

 Survey. 



Independently of the survey came the discovery of fossil 

 footmarks. As far back as 1800 Pliny Moody had observed 

 trifid markings upon sandstone which he called the tracks of 

 birds. In 1835 Mr. W. W. Draper, of Greenfield, Mass., no- 

 ticed similar impressions, and drew the same conclusions. Mr. 

 Draper remarked upon them to Dexter Marsh and Colonel 

 William Wilson, who in turn consulted Dr. James Deane, who 

 wrote to Professors Silliman and Hitchcock. All agreed to 

 refer the investigation to Prof. Hitchcock, who propounded 

 the fundamental principles of ichnology in the January num- 

 ber of the American Journal of Sciences for 1836. The an- 

 nouncement was not favourably received by many geologists, 

 while the general public gave expression to their views by the 

 employment of ridicule. The subject was referred to a com- 

 mittee of the American Association of Geologists, consisting 

 of H. D. Rogers, L. Vanuxem, R. C. Taylor, E. Emmons, and 

 T. A. Conrad, in order, if possible, to produce a unanimity of 

 opinion. Those who had most earnestly opposed the new doc- 

 trine were upon the committee, but all were convinced; as 



