Footprints in a Yorkshire Sandstone. 301 



It is also evident from examining the specimens that the 

 actual impressions were made in a fine material, as between 

 and around the toes there is a thin clay-like deposit. This 

 impression seems to have been suddenly filled in by a coarse, 

 sharp sand, with ferruginous particles ; now a hard sandstone 

 very much resembling the sandstone of the Carboniferous 

 series. In both examples there have been joints in the sand- 

 stone, close to the footprint ; and from these, parallel ferruginous 

 bands give some indication of the weathering which has taken 

 place. One of the joints has cut away the tip of the central 

 toe, which means that its original measurement may be a trifle 

 more than that given below. 



Fig. I shows a distinct impression of a large three-toed 

 foot, the total length of which from the point on the middle 

 toe to the opposite end of the impression is 8 J inches. The two 

 patches of clayey matter in between the toes are clearly shown 

 in this photograph. 



The second example, though smaller, is by far the most 

 interesting. As in the previous instance, the central toe is the 

 longest, the total length being slightly under six inches. The 

 same infillings of clay, etc., occur as in the previous example. 

 As pointed out by Mr. Brodrick, there appears to be clear 

 evidence of a fold in the skin joining the two outer toes. In 

 this large footprint there also appear to be impressions of two 

 spurs, or possibly folds, each pointing toward the central toe 

 from the inner side of the outer toes. The most interesting 

 feature in connection with this specimen, however, is an im- 

 pression of a smaller foot which occurs just to the right of the 

 right-hand toe shown in the picture. This is only ij inches 

 in length, and probably represents the print made by the 

 -forefoot of the animal ; an examination of other footprint slabs 

 showing that it frequently happened that the hind foot was 

 >drawn up to about the same position as that occupied by the 

 forefoot, thus leaving both impressions side by side. 



Judging from the matrix, it seems probable that the 

 footprints are in the Estuarine series, and they appear to be 

 the first record of this character in the Secondary rocks of the 

 -county. We have given publicity to this interesting find in 

 -order that an effort may be made to find the bed in 

 which they occurred in situ. 



T. S. 



.1908 August I. 



