Fossil Footprints of the Connecticut Valley. 163 



and derive their subsistence from a like littoral originj and thus 

 concur to demonstrate the affinities of their ancient progenitors. 

 Hence too this view supplies a palpable illustration of the im- 

 mutability of Creative Design ; for the individuality of entire 

 races of animals is thus proved to be perpetuated through a pe- 

 riod of time too vast for comprehension or even conjecture ; and 

 although living forms have been modified by the force of exter- 

 nal influences, still the essential truth indicated by these aston- 

 ishing remains stands out in bold relief. This is but a single 

 exemplification of the eternal laws that rule the material uni- 

 verse, as revealed by the science of geology ; but every indica- 

 tion of past life impressed upon the enduring rocks is an irresist- 

 ible truth, which eloquently records a page of the earth's history 

 before it came under the dominion of man. 



The relative disproportion of the feet of these extinct animals 

 does not comprise the only feature upon which a comparison can 

 be instituted ; the identity exists also in the configuration and 

 arrangement of toes, which appear to sustain the same charac- 

 ter in reference to structure. They are massive, the thumbs 

 stand in the same oblique direction, and the impressions upon 

 the plate only lack the fifth toe to sustain with those of the Chi- 

 rotherium* a harmonious relation, strengthening the presumption 

 that the animals by which the several impressions were made 

 were members of the same family. This conclusion furnishes 

 a geological principle of importance in establishing also the anal- 

 ogy of the rocks upon which the several examples of footsteps, 

 American and European, occur. The identical nature of organic 

 remains supplies a beautiful law to prove the analogy of remote 

 geological formations ; and not only do these footprints, but sev- 

 eral varieties of vegetable impressions, and impressions of fishes 

 and other important fossils, concur to sustain this principle. 



It is to be regretted that in investigating this obscure subject, 

 the facilities of illustration by recent footsteps of Batrachian rep- 



* I adopt this term because it is intimately associated with the German impres- 

 sions. It is however well known that the animal by which it is believed these 

 footprints were impressed is now denominated by Prof. Owen Lahijrinthodon, 

 from the intricate structure of the animal's tooth. " I can never forget," says Dr. 

 Mantell, "the astonishment and delight with which Dr. Buckland, Prof. Agassiz 

 and myself observed for the first time the marvellous structure of the tooth of the 

 Labyrinthodon, displayed to us by Prof Owen before his splendid discovery was 

 communicated to the scientific public." — Medals of Creation, p. 788. 



