r 



0- 



CLINTON GROUP. 37 



but apparently by some body being drawn over the surface after they were made. The upper 

 portion of the righthand series is preserved in its integrity, or without subsequent pressure or 

 abrasion. 



Figs. 3 & 4,-are parts of two different slabs, covered by numerous small tracks, scarcely one 

 of which presents the dactyloid character of the first ones. They are sharp, distinctly marked 

 pits, with elevated ridges of sand behind them or obliquely upon one side. Some of them have 

 a triangular form, as in the lower part of fig. 3. In the upper part of the same figure, the im- 

 pressions are nearly obliterated, but were originally small and very numerous. 



These figiu-es present nearly all the variety which has been observed in the specimens col- 

 lected. A more thorough examination would doubtless bring to light a greater variety. I have 

 been imable to visit the locality since my discovery of it in 1847 ; and at that time, owino- to 

 the difficulty of access, was able to bring away only some of the better specimens of these and 

 other tracks, leaving behind a large number of others. 



Position and locality. The tracks of this character have been found most abundant in the 

 ravine below Tisdale's sawmill in Warren, Herkimer county. Their position is near the centre 

 of the group at this place. The rock in which they occur is a coarse sandstone, sometimes with 

 considerable intermixture of shaly matter. Similar markings, though less distinct, have been 

 observed at intervals in a western direction as far as Flamborough Head, Canada West. 



(State Collection.) 



NOTE. 



Wishing to present the opinions of other naturalists regarding these peculiar markings upon 

 the surface of the strata, I wrote to Sir Charles Lyell, enclosing several of the plates then 

 complete. These plates were submitted to Professor Forbes : his remarks on them are as follow: 



Plate 10 : "Plants." The conclusion that these bodies are plants, seems to me very question- 

 able. 



Plate 11 : '^Tracks of Gasteropoda." Fig. 4 has to me the aspect of a gasteropodous track, and 

 so has fig. 3. Figs. 1 a & J seem rather to be the trails of a planarian worm allied 

 to Nemerta. 2 a & J do not seem organic. 



Plate 15. The markings on these slabs look remarkably like those made by many crustaceans : 

 so do some of those on pi. 16. In fig. 1, the tracks to the right hand are remarkably 

 like those made by certain fishes. I have seen similar markings in the tilestones in 

 Wales. 



Prof. Forbes is probably better acquainted with the character and origin of such markings, 

 than any other person. The inspection of the actual specimens would doubtless enable him to give 

 a more decided opinion, and perhaps to modify to some extent the views expressed regarding 

 those on Plates 15 and 16, which are clearly all due to a similar cause. 



¥ 



#^ 



4^ 



^ 



la 



