226 REPORT— 1903. 



fepresent true scales and not irregular tubercles as are seen on the skin 

 of many batrachians. The scales on the toes and anterior part of the 

 foot are smaller than on the posterior.' Several footprints from Storeton 

 are similarly, though not so distinctly, marked, and Mr. Beeby Thompson 

 has found an example ' from South Staffordshire. The markings very 

 much resemble the scales on the feet of recent crocodilia. 



The Cheirotherium footprints show considerable variation, even in the 

 same quarry ; but it is generally such as might arise from the age of the 

 individual making the print. Some prints, for instance, suggest a large 

 fleshy foot, with the nails but faintly shown ; others are more slender, 

 with the details more distinct. There are, however, forms showing more 

 important variations, with the same distinctive fea- 

 A 1. 1 — Left Pes tures frequently recurring. 



and Manus. ^ j — The most common form is that figured by 



Mr. G. H. Morton '^ as representing 



Clie'iTotherium stortonense. 

 Cheirosaurus storto?iensis. 



In addition to the pads at the base of the digits this 

 form shows similar pads on the digits themselves, pre- 

 senting gently rounded surfaces divided by slight 

 constrictions which probably mark the position of the 

 joints of the phalanges. The prints of the digits are 

 broadest about the middle and narrow towards the 

 base. (Plate IV.) 



The natural cast figured by Mr. Morton is in the 



British Museum (R. 2591), and measures 9 inches in 



length. A slab with a series of three hind feet is in 



the Bootle Museum,^ and is supposed to be one of 



those referred to by Mr. Cunningham in his original 



paper. The feet correspond in size and form to those 



figured by Mr. Morton. The distance between the 



print of the left foot and the next print of the same 



foot is a little over 3 feet 7 inches, and the distance between the centre 



of the right foot and a line joining the centres of the two prints of the 



left is less than 3 inches. 



The somewhat elongated posterior portion of the print in Mr. Morton's 

 specimen is very possibly caused by the foot having moved slightly 

 forward after being put down ; there is some indication of the mud 

 having been slightly raised in front of the print, but at any rate this 

 elongation is not common in the Storeton prints. 



The impressions of the pads on the digits are so imperfectly and 

 irregularly preserved that, supposing they coincide with the phalanges, 

 the number of these in each digit of the pes cannot be determined with 

 the certainty that is desirable. So far as has at present been observed 



the formula would be g ^^' ™' ^J' \ As there are no clearly marked 



' Described and a portion figured in Geol. Mag. for May 1902. ' Footprints from 

 the Keuper of South Stafiordshire,' A. S. Woodward, LL.D., F.R.S., &c. 



2 Geology of Country m-ouncl Liverpool., pis. 8 and 9. 



Mr. Morton suggested the specific name 'Stortonense" in a paper read March 17, 

 1863, ProG. Liverpool Geol. Soo.. vol. i. 



^ The fifth digit of the middle print of this series has been chipped, giving a 

 different form from that of the other two. This, i& not shown in a drawing made 

 about 1839, so the damage is probably subsequent to that date. 



