explanation of plate 26*. 39 



Plate 26\ 



Ornithichnites, or foot-marks of several extinct species 

 of birds, found in the New Red sandstone of the Valley of 

 the Connecticut.* (Hitchcock.) 



* In the American Journal of Science and Arts, January, 1836. 

 V. XXIX. No. 2. Professor Hitchcock has published a most inte- 

 resting account of his recent discovery of Ornithichnites, or foot- 

 marks of birds in the New Red sandstone of the valley of the Con- 

 necticut. These tracks have been found at various depths beneath 

 the actual surface, in quarries of laminated flag stones, at five places 

 near the banks of this river, within a distance of thirty miles. The 

 sandstone is inclined from 5", to 30", and the Tracks appear to have 

 been made on it before the strata received their inclination. Seven 

 of these tracks occur in three or four quarries within the space of a 

 few rods square; they are so distinct, that he considers them to 

 have been made by as many different species, if not genera, of birds. 

 (See PI. 26% Figs. 1—14.) 



The footsteps appear in regular succession, on the continuous 

 track of an animal in the act of walking or running, with the right 

 and left foot always in their relative places. 



The distance of the intervals between each footstep on the same 

 track is occasionally varied, but to no greater amount than may be 

 explained by the Bird having altered its pace. Many tracks of dif- 

 ferent individuals and different species are often found crossing one 

 another ; they are sometimes crowded like impressions of feet on the 

 muddy shores of a stream, or pond, where Ducks and Geese resort. 

 (See PI. 26^ Figs. 12. 13. 14.) 



None of the footsteps appear to be those of Web-footed Birds ; 

 they most nearly resemble those of Grallee, (Waders) or birds whose 

 habits resemble those of Grallas. The impressions of three toes are 

 usually distinct, except in a few instances ; that of the fourth or 

 hind toe is mostly wanting, as in the footsteps of modern Grallae. 



The most remarkable nraong these footsteps, are those of a gigan- 

 tic bird, twice the size of an Ostrich, whose foot measured fifteen 

 inches in length, exclusive of the largest claw, which measured two 

 inches. All the three toes were broad and thick. (PI. 26*. Fig. I . 

 and PI. 26^. Fig. 1.) These largest footsteps have as yet been found 

 in one quarry only, at Mount Tom near Northampton ; here, four 

 nearly parallel tracks of this kind were discovered, and in one of 

 them six footsteps appeared in regular succession, at the distance of 



