Association of American Geologists. 167 



of animals, probaly tortoises, were obtained from the same sandstone, but 

 as yet no tracks like those of New England have been discovered. 



The facts, &/C. which led to a different conclusion are these. First, 

 that the forms assumed by fucoidal plants were numerous and imita- 

 tive, some resembling the tail of a rooster, the cauda galli; another, 

 which was like unto a large claw or paw, and which may have been a 

 Lusus naturae, and the two specimens on the table of the Association, 

 which present in relief a distinct tripartite form. These, as they all ap- 

 pertain to rocks of great antiquity in comparison with those of New Eng- 

 land, it appeared more reasonable to believe that there might be resem- 

 blances as perfect, as the fossils with a tripartite character were approxi- 

 mations to the forms in question. 



That no trace of organic matter could be discovered by the eye in the 

 greater number of the fucoides. In some, such as the Harlani, they have 

 been seen to be made up of small pebbles, presenting no little difficulty, 

 not to the manner only in which the organic matter was replaced, the 

 external form being coniplete, but the nature of this material, which could 

 make so definite an impression and preserve its form entire. 



There were other facts which showed resemblances, such as that the 

 part in relief was the part removed when the fucoides was attached to 

 the sandstone at its upper part. It may also be stated, that the appendages 

 to the heel of some of the New England tracks, miglit have been caused 

 by a bird whose legs were feathered, but not to a wader, and they favored 

 their vegetable origin, for the appendages might readily be conceived to 

 be either leaves or radicals, or both. 



From a comparative examination of the facts on both sides, your com- 

 mittee unanimously believe, that the evidence entirely favors the views of 

 Prof Hitchcock, and should regret that a difference had existed, if they 

 did not feel assured it would lead to greater stability of opinion. To lik- 

 en things to what we know is the nature of mind, the error from this ten- 

 dency increases with ignorance, and diminishes as knowledge increases, 

 so that he that knoweth all things, as is self-evident, can commit no error 

 when following this instinct of his being. The discoveries of Prof Hitch- 

 cock were published at a period when the mind of those who embraced 

 the negative side of the subject was preoccupied with the anomalous veg- 

 etation with which many of the Silurian rocks of New York abound, and 

 to which provisionally the name of fucoides had been given. From this 

 imitative character, and from finding a few specimens presenting a tri- 

 partite or trifurcate form, &c. it appeared not only possible but probable, 

 that the impressions from Massachusetts and Connecticut, were with 

 greater propriety referable to fucoidal bodies, than to those which Prof 

 Hitchcock had assigned them. 



We may here remark how essential it is that truth or the facts which 

 make manifest any truth, should first be presented to us ; so readily is the 



