190 PALEONTOLOGY. 



of the mid toe, but are not identical with those of any known 

 Batrachian or other reptile. They shew a papillose integu- 

 ment as in some mammals, but also like that on the sole of 

 certain Geckos, and which may be another mark of sauroid 

 departure from the modern batrachian type. The proximity 

 of the right and left prints to the median line indicates a nar- 

 rower form of body, or its greater elevation upon limbs longer 

 and more vertical than in tailless Batrachia, and in strength 

 and proportions more like those of mammals. In the attempt 

 to solve the difficult problem of the nature of the animal which 

 has impressed the new red sandstone with the cheirotherian 

 footprints, we cannot overlook the fact, that we have in the 

 LabyrintJiodons also, batrachoid reptiles, differing as remarkably 

 from all known Batrachia, and from all other reptiles, in the 

 structure of their teeth ; both the footsteps and the fossils are, 

 moreover, peculiar to the new red sandstone ; the different 

 size of the footprints referred to different species of Cheiro- 

 theria correspond with the different size of ascertained species 

 of Labyrinthodon ; and the present facts best support the 

 hypothesis, that the footprints called "cheirotherian," are 

 those of labyrinthodont reptiles. 



Genus Otozoum. — The footprints in the red sandstones, 

 probably of liassic age, in Connecticut, described by Prof. 

 Hitchcock under the above name, equalled in size the largest 

 of those of the Gheirotherium (Ch. Hercules), but the hind 

 foot had but four toes, whilst the fore foot had five toes. It 

 would seem that the hind foot, which was larger than the fore 

 foot, obliterated the print of that foot, by being placed upon 

 it in walking. In the few instances of the fore foot print the 

 toes are turned outward, and the fourth and fifth seem to 

 have been connate at their base. An impression of a web 

 has been clearly discerned in the hind foot. Only one toe on 

 this foot shews a claw, the rest are terminated by " pellets," 

 as in the BatracJtia, to which family Dr. Hitchcock refers 



