462 0. W. Jeffs — Saurian Footprints in Trias. 



C. Stortonensis. Pentadactylate digits. Length of pes 7^ inches ; 

 length of manus 3 inches. All the digits are perfect. The two feet 

 are close together, being less than 1 inch apart. The toes are 

 narrow and tapering, the first showing the characteristic turning 

 inwards, like a thumb. In all the true Clieir other ium impressions 

 the digits radiate from a centre like those in an outspread human 

 hand. 



2. Slab containing the natural mould of the impression of a 

 medium-sized footprint ; pes about 8 inches in length. These 

 moulds or hollows in which the animal impressed its foot into the 

 sand are far more uncommon than might be imagined, and this is 

 the only perfect specimen I have been able to obtain. Its preserva- 

 tion is evidently due to the sandy matrix. Most of the " moulds " 

 occur in the soft clay which is intercalated in the footprint bed. 



3. Genus indet. — Slab (No. 134) showing hind and fore feet of 

 a smaller species, with narrow toes. Length of pes 3 inches ; 

 length of manus 1^ inches. The toes in this species all curve 

 inwards, and are not separated, nor do they radiate as in Cheirothermm. 



4. Slab (No. 142) showing rain-pittings and a remarkable median 

 impression running in a straight line, which may be attributed to 

 the track made by the point of a tail trailing on the ground. 



Of impressions made by smaller species of Eeptilia, the Keuper, 

 both at Storeton and Oxton, presents several examples. With 

 the exception of Bhynchosaurus itself, very little is known of these 

 creatures ; for, although a great number of bones have been found 

 in the Triassic strata, not only of Europe but of America and South 

 Africa, it is still a matter of difficulty to correlate the footprints 

 with any known species of animals. 



The difficulty in deciphering these small footprints is increased by 

 the fact that several kinds of impressions are often found together 

 on the same slab, in addition to the frequent superposition of one 

 impression upon another, as the animals walked across the expanse 

 of sand in various directions. 



Among the specimens exhibited are examples of five species, all 

 of which are probably the prints of small reptiles. The forms 

 marked b, c, and d have not been previously recorded from Storeton. 



5. (a) Bhynchosaurus. — Four well-defined digits, with occasional 

 vestiges of a fifth digit, much shorter that the others, possessing 

 short claws and curved inwards. There is sometimes the mark of 

 a projecting spur at the back of the foot. Length of foot 1^ inches. 

 The middle toe often extends beyond the others. It is difficult to 

 distinguish between the fore and hind feet, and the impressions 

 follow so closely that the successive tracks of the animal's march 

 are not clearly defined. All the toes curve slightly in the same 

 direction* These impressions frequently occur on slabs exhibiting 

 the tracks of Gheirotheriiim, often being superposed on the actual 

 imprint of the larger saurian. 



6. (6) Genus indet. — Tracks of a smaller animal, f of an inch 

 in length, with a more stubby foot, and very distinct claws on the 

 digits; the first digit very short, often indicated by a mere point 



