344 Fossil Footmarks found in Westmoreland County, Pa. 



The footmarks here described are the first decided indications, 

 so far as my information extends, of the existence of birds or other 

 highly organized animals, as early as the carboniferous period.* 



The tracks are referable to at least seven species, and have the 

 following characters. 



Ornithichnites-f gallinuloides, (fig. 1.) The tracks appear to 

 belong to the order Gralla, and may be allied to our gallinules. 



Fig.l 



Reduced one half. 



Reduced one half. 



Toes 4, three before, leptodactylous, pointing forwards, almost 

 entirely separate ; middle toe much the longest ; spread of the 

 lateral toes 90° ; hind toe pointing directly backwards, (on one 

 foot there was a slight inclination inwards,) on the same level 



* Dr. King was not aware when this was written, that Mr. Logan had discovered 

 tracks on the carboniferous rocks of Nova Scoua, which have been referred by Mr. 

 Owen to unknown Reptilia. (See this Journal, Vol. xlv, p. 358.) — Eds. 



t This term, proposed originally by Prof. Hitchcock, is preferred to his more re- 

 cent Ornithoidichnites. 



