Notice of a New Species of Batrachian Footmarks. 79 
seen projected on a surface perpendicular to the axis, it appears 
circular ; if on an oblique surface, it will assume the form of an 
ellipse, parabola, or hyperbola, according to the degree of obliquity. 
The form in the particular case I have described was that of a 
hyperbola; because the axis ascended from the eye toward 
the sun, while the surface on which the halo was projected 
was horizontal, or slighly descending. 
It surprises me much that I have never seen any thing of the 
kind before ; and more still, that I have never seen it referred 
to, as an argument in favor of the hypothesis which I have at- 
tempted to state somewhat in detail in this paper. Yo my mind 
it is a demonstration of its truth. My engagements at college 
were such as to prevent my watching for the recurrence of the 
phenomenon while cold weather continued, but Dr. Hitchcock, 
whose attention was called to it on the 23d, saw it again a few 
mornings after, formed in the same circumstances ; and I think 
it might be often witnessed during the season of frost, as one 
of the glories of a sunny morning. 
Amherst, Mass., April, 1845. 
Art. 1X.—WNotice of a New Species of Batrachian Footmarks ; 
by James Deane, M. D. 
Wuie recently engaged in searching the sandstone beds of 
Connecticut River, for its peculiar fossils, my attention has been 
frequently arrested by a pair of singular footsteps, which were ac- 
companied by other impressions of obscure character. ‘T’he pe- 
dal impressions consist of five massive toes radiating from a tarsal 
centre, like the spokes of a wheel, and a line intersecting them 
from centre to centre, leaves three of the toes pointing forward 
and outward, and two outward and backward, the whole com- 
pleting a semicircle. (See the diagram, A. A.) 
_ Regarding these anomalous imprints to be due to quadrupeds 
specifically different from any thing hitherto observed, I sought 
diligently for the corresponding set of members, but without suc- 
cess. From the position of the feet, it was apparent that the pro- 
gressive movement of the animal was by leaping, and this opin- 
ion was corroborated by the many instances that came under my 
observation, the position of the feet being in all cases identical. 
The lobate forms of the joints, with the claws, were accurately 
