230 REPORT— 1903. 



although in two cases only four digits are represented, the foot was 

 probably pentadactylate ; in the case of K, the lifth digit, and in L the first 

 digit failing to reach the ground, or at any rate not leaving any trace of 

 its having done so. Whether this may or may not be due to a gradual 

 shortening of the outer toes and the development of a form with only 

 three functional digits is a matter worth considering. For this reason it 

 may be well to notice here a form that can hardly be considered 

 cheirotheroid, nor can it well be classed in either of the other groups. It 

 is a three-toed form found in the dolomitic conglomerate of Glamorgan- 

 shire and described by Mr. W. J. Sollas ^ under the name of Brontozoum 

 TJbomasi. There are three impressions of the left foot and two of the 

 right. The footprint ' shows the mark of three toes diverging from a 

 posterior heel ; the middle toe is the most regularly defined, the outer 

 comes next in regularity, and the inner last.' ' The outer toe is confluent 

 with the heel ; the middle and inner toes are separated from it and from 

 each other.' The total length of the impression from the point of the nail 

 of the middle toe to the back of the heel is 10 inches ; the angle contained 

 between the inner and outer toes is .50°, and the projection of the middle 

 toe beyond a line joining the points of the inner and outer toes is 3^ inches. 

 The middle toe shows the existence of a nail, which is not so clearly shown 

 on the others. The length of stride is 3 feet 2 inches. The slab is now 

 in the Cardiff Museum. Owing to the generally unsuitable nature of the 

 matrix impressions would have been seldom made and still less frequently 

 preserved. (Plate VIII.) 



In connection with the subject of this report the writer had occasion 

 to examine the footprints of the following museums : — Bi'itish Museum, 

 Natural History ; Museum of the Geological Survey ; Liverpool, Free 

 Museum ; Liverpool, University College Museum ; Bootle (Lancashire), 

 Free Museum ; Manchester, Owens College Museum ; Salford, Peel Park 

 Museum ; Warrington, Municipal Museum ; Chester, Grosvenor Museum ; 

 Shrewsbury, Free Museum ; Warwick, Naturalists and Archteologists' 

 Field Club Museum ; Cambridge, Woodwardian Museum ; Ludlow 

 Museum ; and he has to thank those in charge of these collections for the 

 facilities and assistance aflforded him, particularly Dr. A. S. Woodward, 

 F.R.S., Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., F.G.S., Ac, and Dr. C. ^Y. Andrews 

 for advice and assistance. 



Unfortunately the time at the writer's disposal has not been sufficient 

 to enable him to do more this year than give an account of one group of 

 footprints ; but should the Committee be reappointed, and see fit to allow 

 him to continue the report, he hopes to describe the remaining two groups 

 and such other footprints as have come under his notice in time for the 

 succeeding meeting of the Association. 



' ' On some Three-toed Footprints from the Triassic Conglomerate of S. Wales,' 

 by Mr. W. J. Sollas, M.A., F.G.S., Quart. Jonrn. Geol. Soc, vol. xxxv. p. 511. Read 

 April 9, 1879. 



