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Penrith Beacon. Quarry. River Hden. Melmerby. 
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G. V. SMITH ON FOOTPRINTS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 479 
34. On Furruer Discoverres of the Foorprinzs of VERTEBRATE 
ANIMALS 7 the Lowrrn New Rep Sanpstonz of Pewriry. By 
Grorer Varty Suira, Hsq., F.G.S. (Read May 28, 1884.) 
[ Abridged. | 
Hirnerto not many footprints have been met with in the Penrith 
Sandstone. Impressions of the same nature as those found in the 
equivalent strata at Dumfries have been previously met with at 
Brownrigg in Plumpton, about five miles north-west of Penrith; 
and the late Mr. Binney and Prof. Harkness have noticed similar 
impressions in the flagey beds near Penrith, but they were not so 
distinct as those found at Brownrigg. A notice of the discovery of 
a variety of impressions in the Lower New Red Sandstone of Pen- 
rith may therefore be interesting, and may serve to throw some 
light upon the general nature of the terrestrial vertebrate life of that 
period. 
The footprints now referred to were met with in a quarry situate 
on the eastern slope of a hill, at a point about 200 yards north of 
the highway from Penrith to Alston, and about three and a half 
miles east of Penrith. 
The geological position of the sandstone is shown approximately 
in the accompanying diagram section, which is based upon one by 
Section of Hill from which the Footprints were obtained. 
(After Prof. Harkness.) 
q 
\ 
A. St. Bees Sandstone. D. Penrith Sandstone. 
B. Red Shales. EK. Carboniferous. 
©. Magnesian Limestone, Gypsum, F, Pre-Carboniferous, 
and Plant-beds. 
Prof.2Harkness. This shows that the Penrith Sandstone rises from 
beneath the Magnesian Limestone, traces of the latter rock being 
found ata short distance to the north-east of the quarry, in the 
bank of the river Eden. 
The tracks on cast No. 1* appear to be those of an animal which 
evidently used its fore feet simply as supports, while throwing the 
weight of its body mainly on its hind feet. The impressions made 
by the hind feet are broader than they are long, and are nearly 
twice the size of those left by the fore feet, which occur almost 
immediately in front of the former. 
* This paper was illustrated by facsimile casts of the footprints, which are 
now in the Museum of the Geological Society. 
2K 2 
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