Footsteps in the Bunter Sandstone of Dumfries-shire. 209 



perhaps the most uncommon in the quarry. There has been no 

 appearance of impressions of the Cheirotherium, which Mr. Hark- 

 ness mentions as occurring in the sandstone of the lower basin . 



For two of these impressions we would propose the generic 

 title of ChelichnuSy as little doubt will be entertained of their 

 having been impressed by some animal of tortoise or chelonian 

 form. These were the impressions originally noticed by Dr. Dttii- 

 can and referred by Prof. Owen to Testudo duncani. ''^ 



Chelichnus duncani, Owen, is the most frequently found, and 

 tracks of it at the present time may be seen extending above 

 31 feet in length in a direction from west to east, not keeping 

 a straight course, but zigzag and winding both to the north and 

 south. Many of these impressions are very distinct, and exhibit 

 a single sole or pad with slight undulations on its surface and five 

 distinct claws which required the foot to be sunk to a consider- 

 able depth before their impress was leftj these footprints are 

 from 1 to 2 inches in diameter. 



Chelichnus gigas, Jard., is the large footprint indicated by 

 Dr. Duncan as indistinct. The general diameter is from 3 to 4 

 inches, frequently filled up, but when seen free they consist of a 

 single raised pad or cushion with a circular ring, which appears 

 in certain conditions to have protruded and concealed the claws. 

 One impression of a walk of above 9 feet in length has been ob- 

 tained, in which each footprint is 9 inches in diameter, and in 

 one three toes are distinctly marked. 



For the other two impressions, of which the direct alliance has 

 not been ascertained, but which are certainly not tortoises, it was 

 suggested that some more indefinite title would be preferable, 

 and that of Herpetichnus has been applied. 



Herpetichnus sauroplesius, Jard., is also one of the impressions 

 noticed by Dr. Duncan ; and one of the specimens presented by 

 that gentleman to the museum of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 

 as well as one more lately procured, exhibit lengthened toes of 

 unequal length, the second toe from the inside being the longest, 

 the three exterior decreasing gradually. The impressions gene- 

 rally occur filled up, or present only a smooth hollow, as if the 

 sand had been exceedingly moist, and the finer undulations of 

 the sole had been obliterated on the removal of the foot. The 

 length of the step or stride in these impressions, and the form 

 of the foot in Dr. Duncan's specimen alluded to, incline us to 

 consider this animal to have been of a more lacertine or saurian 

 form than any of the others. ^''' V' -- -"^ »'.>J|^''' -j- 



Herpetichnus bucklandi, Jard., has not beeh ^i'eVi^ously iroticea] 



it is from a small annual, and the tracks generally appear raised 



or as a cast, but on one slab we have distinct impressions of at 



least three toes. ''f 



u^qqj^ ion s»oon rinuot 



