398 Miscellanies. 



The casts, which consists of a rather soft and coarse sandstone, 

 were evidently formed in the impressions of two hind feet; and 

 though they have suffered from exposure to the weather for twelve 

 years, yet they are sufficiently perfect to have enabled Sir Philip Eger- 

 ton to take the measurements of the different parts, and draw up the 

 accompanying comparative table. It is necessary to state, that though 

 he preserves the use of the term thumb for the convenience of com- 

 parison with previous descriptions, yet he is of opinion that the mar- 

 ginal digit which has been so designated, is not the representative of 

 the fifth, but of the first toe. 



Direction of tlie Measurements. 



Length from the heel to the point of the i 



2tid toe . _ . ( 



Length from the heel to the point of the j 



thumb " " ■ * 



Length from the heel to the angle between ( 



^the 1st and 2nd toes - - \ 



2nd and 3rd toes 



3rd and 4th toes 



Greatest breadth across the insertions of i 



the toes _ . _ i 



Breadth from the point of the thumb to ( 



4th toe . . - ( 



Breadth from the thumb to point of 4th toe 6 3 

 Breadth across the sole below the thumb 

 Breadth from 1st toe-point to 4th toe-point 4 6 



From these measurements it appears, that considerable differences 

 exist in the three specimens of Chirotherium. Upon comparing the 

 footstep from Hessberg with that from Storeton, it will be found, that 

 the former is thicker and more clumsy than the latter; that the sole 

 is shorter and broader, and the toes wider and longer. The most im- 

 portant discrepancy, however, is in the position of the thumb, which 

 is placed much nearer the heel in the Hessberg specimens than in 

 those from Storeton. The cast from near Tarporley resembles the 

 latter more than the former; it nevertheless differs considerably in 

 the proportion of the breadth to the length of the sole, which is 

 greater; and in the proportions of the length of the toes to the length 

 of the sole, which is less than in the Storeton specimens. It is also 

 distinguished by the greater divergence of the toes from each other. 

 From these differences and the gigantic size of the Tarporley spe- 

 cimen, the author conceives that the animal which made the im- 

 pression was a distinct species ; and he proposes for it, in compli- 

 ance with the adage ex pede Herculem, the name of Chirotherium 

 HercuUs — Lond. and Edin. Phil. Mag., Jan., 1839. 



