46 
EXTINCT MONSTERS 
lie might as reasonably doubt bis own corporeal existence as that 
of these enormous and peculiar races.” 
Professor Hitchcock’s work on this subject was much appre- 
ciated by his countrymen, as the following facts will show. It 
was resolved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in the year 
1857, that his Geological Report on the Sandstone of the Connecticut 
Valley'^ be printed, and one copy furnished to each member of 
the executive and legislative departments of the Government of 
that year, and one copy to each town and city in the Common- 
wealth. Not content with this, it was resolved in the following 
year that more copies be printed, that one hundred be given to 
the author, and others for the purpose of international exchange. 
Englishmen cannot but admire this good example, and would 
doubtless be glad if it could be followed at home, where so little 
is done for the cause of Science by our statesmen. 
But, in justice to Dr. Deane, we must not omit to mention his 
part in the description and figuring of these interesting records. 
Unfortunately, he died before the completion of his beautifully 
illustrated work on the subject. He drew with his own hand a 
large number of lithographs from the actual slabs; and these 
drawings will always be of the greatest use to students of 
Ichnology. He worked at the subject in his spare moments, 
during an active professional career, and with great enthusiasm, 
as the following extract from his unfinished work will show. 
‘'An indescribable interest is imparted by opening the long- 
sealed volume that contains the records of these extinct animals. 
The slabs were uncovered and raised under my supervision, and 
page after page, with their inscriptions, revealed living truths. 
There were the characters, fresh as upon the morning when they 
were impressed, reminding the spectator of the brevity of human 
1 Ichnology of New England, 
