Bunter Sandstone of Dumfries-shire. 93 



one of these is of an elongated form, rounded at the anterior ex • 

 tremit)', and immediately ^"ithin this extremity there are seen im- 

 pressions of either toes or claws. Two of these on the outer side 

 are shallow and comparatively indistinct ; the one in fi'ont is 

 deeply impressed, and the inner one contiguous to it is also well 

 marked. Traces of a fifth may also be seen, but owing to the 

 nature of the sand, when the animal passed over it, not being in 

 a condition to receive a perfect impression, these steps are not di- 

 stinctly shown. From the raised margin in front of the claw- 

 like markings gradually disappearing behind, it would seem that 

 the animal in its progress had pushed the sand forwards by the 

 sloping manner in which it set do\\Ti its feet. The breadth of 

 this form of step is about | an inch, and as only the front and 

 a portion of the sides art seen, its length cannot be determined. 

 There are only four impressions on the slab, and the interval 

 between each of these about 8 inches. The position of the steps 

 is slightly inchned outwards, but as these are in a line they seem 

 to belong to one side only, and have probably been produced by 

 the same foot ; and as no other impressions of the same nature 

 have been obtained, no conclusion can be arrived at concerning 

 the form and size of the animal which produced this form of 

 footprint. 



The character of the step appears somewhat allied to the Che- 

 lichnns, and in order to distinguish this form it may be named 

 the Chelichnus obliguus, from the oblique direction of the steps. 



The other form of impression which is associated with that 

 just described, shows characters which will remove it from Che- 

 Ionia, and which seem to place the animal which caused it 

 amongst Saurians. 



This impression consists of a line of steps which are furnished 

 with well-developed toes, three of which are very distinct, and 

 two others can also be traced. The marks caused by the toes 

 are much deeper and in a better state than the other parts of 

 the foot ; but in one case the impress of the posterior part of the 

 foot is suflficiently perfect to show that it had a rounded form, 

 and was less than an inch in length, including the toes, which 

 are themselves about ^ an inch long ; these being broad at their 

 base and tapering rapidly towards the extremity, which is pointed. 

 The nature of the impressions is such as to show that these toes 

 were curved ; and the step is devoid of the raised parts which are 

 seen before the claws of the two preceding forms of footmarks, 

 and appears to indicate that in progi'cssion the foot was put per- 

 pendicularly downwards. The direction of the steps is inclined 

 to the path of the animal, and the intenal which lies between 

 them is about 6 inches. These steps, like the preceding form, 

 occur in a line, and are those of one side only ; they also seem to 



