Prof. Hitchcock on Ichnolithology^ or Fossil Footmarks. 299 



On the 20th of March, Dr. Deane replied to my letters, re- 

 peating his belief that these marks were " the real impressions 

 of the feet of some bird, probably of the turkey species ;" and 

 stated that the tracks were in a row, and that the layers of rock 

 were bent downward beneath them. In support of this opinion, 

 soon after he sent me a cast of the tracks, with a reiteration of 

 the same views. Ere long I visited Greenfield, and as soon as 

 I saw the impressions, I perceived that an interesting field of 

 research was opened before me. They certainly appeared to be 

 tracks; and bore a striking resemblance to those of large Grallas, 

 or wading birds. Bat I knew that such opinions were opposed 

 by very strong geological analogies ; and I suspended my judg- 

 ment until I could investigate the matter. It would not answer 

 to rest so important conclusions upon a single specimen, however 

 distinct : for I had too often found that first impressions in geolo- 

 gy were fallacious. Dr. Deane had, indeed, expressed his opin- 

 ion that they were bird tracks. But as he had declared himself 

 in his letter unacquainted with geology, and had even referred 

 the tracks to birds similar to those now living, showing thus that he 

 did not appreciate the strong geological objections to his opinions, 

 and since also his reasons for his opinions were only such as a cas- 

 ual inspection of the specimens would force upon every one, viz. 

 the indentations made by the tracks, their general resemblance 

 to the feet of birds, and their existence in a row — facts which 

 I afterwards found produced the same convictions upon almost 

 all who saw them — I confess, without meaning to detract at 

 all from the high respect I entertain for Dr. Deane, that his 

 opinion made no imf)ression upon me. I took hold of this ques- 

 tion, therefore, not as one already settled, but as one requiring 

 the most careful examination to decide. I visited every accessi- 

 ble sandstone quarry, and soon brought to light several other 

 species of tracks ; among which were those enormous ones, 

 which I have called giganteus and ingens — the former four 

 times larger than the track of an ostrich. I also sought for the 

 tracks of living animals upon mud and snow, and for their feet 

 in menageries and museums. And this work was commenced 

 alone, and for years has been continued alorie. Who, indeed, 

 could give me any instruction in the science of tracks ? In what 

 volume is it contained? In the volume of nature only; and 



