1847.] Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 219 



and narrow toes, winged feet, number of toes, projection of middle 

 toe beyond the lateral ones, distance between the tips of the lateral 

 toes, distance between the tips of the middle and outer toes, di- 

 rection of hind toe, character of the claw, width of toe, number 

 and length of the phalanges, the impression on the mud, length of 

 step, distance of feet from line of direction, &c. The number of 

 toes varies from three to five. 



He explained the means by which to distinguish between quad- 

 rupeds and bipeds, described the classes into which he had divided 

 the birds, and pointed out their affinities. In one specimen which 

 he had found, every alternate step was turned at an angle of 45 

 degrees from the line of direction. He could explain this only by 

 the conjecture that the animal had broken its leg, and for want of 

 good medical advice the leg was set awry, and this was the cause 

 of the very singular footmark left on the rock. Some giant foot- 

 steps, twenty inches in length, he believed to be those of frogs. 

 They resembled closely in character the embryo foot of a frog 

 which had been shown to him by Professor Agassiz, and here he 

 would remark that the fossils discovered more generally resemble 

 the embryo of animals of the present day, than adults. 



ANNUAL MEETING AND FAIR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, IN BOSTON. 



Probably no society has exerted so much influence upon the 

 culture of fruits as this ancient and honorable society. Its organ- 

 ic management belongs to the superior orders of all associations 

 formed to promote important interests. Its fairs indicate a judi- 

 cious zeal for the promotion of its objects, and the display of fruits 

 during this fair at least, show a greater knowledge of fruits and 

 their several excellencies, than is found at any other similar in- 

 stitution on this side of the Atlantic. The fruits which are ex- 

 hibited besides being a rich luxuriant show, are themselves wor- 

 thy of intense study as varieties. It is very probable that in flow- 

 ers, this society may be excelled, although the less imposing dis- 

 play in this branch may be owing to the greater attention which 

 is given to fruits. 



In grapes cultivated under glass, we believe the show must rank 

 very high, if not in No. 1. Certainly in one sample we should 

 by no means be surprised to learn, if Joshua and Caleb, were a 

 committee, that they awarded the premium to the Boston cluster; 

 and if the grapes of Eschol were better, they must have been in 

 wonderful clusters. However, pears were the most imposing. In 



