Scientific Lectures. 157 



the footprints found in Connecticut valley. But I must not omit to 

 state that those sandstones are Triassic, long anterior to the cretaceous 

 formation in which these bones were found. 1 do not say therefore 

 that it was the same creature, but that it must have been a creature 

 • remarkably like it, and that the pattern could not have altered much, 

 either in shape or dimensions, when we find the footprints in the 

 Triassic period so clearly agreeing with the fact of a creature which 

 lived long subsequent, in the cretaceous period. The Hadrosaurus, 

 of which we suppose this to be a true expression, tells us of the unity 

 and continuation of forms, which I trust are now familiar to you 

 fi'om the arrangements of these bones ; and I trust we shall soon be 

 able to lay before you the restoration of the external form, now that 

 I have shown the simplicity of the mode of producing it. For we 

 can find the intei'pretation of these bones in existing animals, and put 

 on the muscles which would be required to move the limbs, as we 

 find them in the limbs of the alligators of the present day, or of the 

 ostrich of the present day. We have here one type of this class of 

 animals in the Rhea, or American ostrich ; truly American, may I be 

 permitted to say, in some of its habits ; for the male is a pattern to 

 all fathers in these days of progress, nursing the young and taking 

 charge of the whole family, leaving the lady of the ostrich family 

 perfectly independent, so that she can attend to political aifairs with- 

 out any inconvenience whatever. Doubtless you will appreciate the 

 value of a t}^e of that description. I do not claim as much for the 

 Hadrosaurus. I have brought him before you mainly to show that 

 while he is less stout than the giant Iguanodon in England, he so far 

 resembles the ostrich in his form that he may be considered inter- 

 mediate between the two ; and esj^ecially to relieve your minds from 

 any idea that there is anything profane or improper in the supposition 

 that there may be a graduation onwards, by the change of the one 

 original plan to adopt it to varied circumstances, and the various 

 changes which inanimate matter must have sustained during that 

 long period of time. [Applause.] 



