1854. HECKLES ^WEALDEN FOOT-TRACKS. 457 



No subsequent details proved unfavourable to my opinion, and I 

 have watched with intense interest the successive exposure of these 

 wonderful pheenomena, until I have at length obtained such evidence 

 of their being organic, as seems to establish the existence of a class 

 of animals of stupendous bulk, and having tridactylous feet, during 

 the "Wealden epoch. 



Geological position of the Ichriites. — I now have the gratification 

 to announce the occurrence of the Ornithoidichnites of the Wealden 

 in large numbers on the upper planes of strata of arenaceous clay or 

 shale exposed at intervals from Bulverhithe to Cowden*. 



This shale or soft sandstone constitutes the lowest member of the 

 " Horsted group " of Dr. Mantell, in this locality. It is to be seen 

 to the east of Bulverhithe, with a dip to the east ; and, although it 

 does not, I believe, appear at the top of the cliff, it is superior to it 

 in geological position. It is next observed to the west of Galley Hill, 

 whence it is no doubt prolonged subterraneously to Bexhill, where it 

 again appears and rises abruptly into the low cliflP or bank, and 

 occupies a conspicuous and almost vertical position (see fig. p. 458); 

 the strata having been here the scene of violent disturbance. Dip- 

 ping to the west, it suffers an undulation which brings it to the sur- 

 face at half a mile, and again at the distance of a mile to the west, or 

 about three-quarters of a mile to the east of Cowden. At each of the 

 above points I have found the characteristic Ichnites, while the inter- 

 vening spaces, which are occupied by the upper members of the same 

 stratigraphical series, have not as yet furnished these fossil footmarks, 

 but have supplied organic remains which do not seem to extend to 

 the subordinate bedsf. 



The relative position of the beds is shown in the accompanying 

 section (p. 458) of a portion of the cliff at Bexhill. In this. No. 3 

 represents the shale in question, and No. 5 the ledge having the three 

 impressions to which I shall hereafter allude J;. 



Character of the Ichnites. — The impressions are all tridactylous 



they may not happen to come immediately within the types of existing organiza- 

 tion, would be a singular disregard of all those researches which are daily reveal- 

 ing the wonders of former epochs. 



* I obtained a separate cast some time since between Cowden and Pevensey 

 Sluice ; I anticipate, therefore, that I shall find them in situ in this direction ; if 

 I do, it will probably be in the Cowden clays. The casts to the east of Hastings 

 (Quart. Geol. Journ. vol. viii. p. 396, &c.) occur on a band of sandstone subordi- 

 nate to, or perhaps constituting a part of Mr. Webster's " M. M." or lowest strata. 

 If Dr. Mantell and Dr. Fitton have given the correct order of superposition, strata 

 several hundred feet thick must be interposed between the footprints to the east 

 of Hastings and those to the west of it. Their present elevation or level, how- 

 ever, is nearly the same. 



t In the shale containing the footprints at Bexhill and half a mile to the west 

 of it, I have found the same description of shells, while in the sandstone occupy- 

 ing the intermediate space, I have seen no trace of these, but at least five varieties 

 of UnionidcB, both of large and small species. 



X The occurrence of these impressions in bed No. 5, and of one cast in a 

 course of hard stone in the Cowden clays, which are superior to the " Horsted 

 group," warrant the supposition that the footprints exist more or less in all of 

 these beds. 



2 I 2 



