THE GEOLOGIST. 
87 
Daubree has just drawn our attention to a similar interesting dis- 
covery, which he has recently made in France, At Saint Valbert, 
between Plombieres and Luxenil, there are some large quarries of 
Trias sandstone (variegated sandstone). It was in these quarries 
that the geologist we have just named, had the good luck to meet 
with impressions of the feet of quadrupeds in every respect similar 
to those formerly discovered at Hildburghausen, in Saxony. Un- 
derneath the thick strata of red sandstone, which is extracted for 
building, paving, &c., there exist thin layers of another sandstone, 
also of a reddish colour, but spotted with green, and altematiag 
with layers of clay which show a like coloration. It was in these 
clay stratifications that M. Daubree discovered the impressions we 
speak of: they were found on the surface of the beds of clay, 
where they join the superposed sandstone. No doubt exists as to 
the identity of the animal to which we owe these imprints in 
France, with the quadruped that produced them on the Trias 
formation in Saxony. At the side of the footprints of the larger 
feet were found also some much smaller, having only four toes, 
and reminding one of the feet of the Batrachian tribe. Not only 
the form of the feet, but the minutest details of tiie skin of the 
foot, are brought to hght by a careful inspection of the foot-marks. 
After having thoroughly studied these and modelled, for the sake 
of comparison, some impressions of the feet of bears, kangaroos, 
crocodiles, Uzards, &c.* M. Daubree comes to the conclusion that 
the quadruped who has left these traces behind him in the Trias 
formation of Saint Valbert, must have belonged to the class of 
Mammalia. For our part, we feel more disposed however to adhere 
to Professor Owen's opinion alluded to above, at least imtil we 
shall have more eridence to the contrary than can be furnished by 
a mere foot-print. 
The impressions left by animals who flourished on our planet in 
the earlier ages of the globe, teach us however some important 
geological lessons : They attest, in the first place, that the ground 
over which the animal walked was soft and damp, but nevertheless 
above water. But these sedimentary strata upon which the animal 
made his promenades, has since been covered by another deposit, 
* These impressions were moulded in earth of the Trias formation, in which the 
ancient footmarks were found. 
