ART. XV.— On the Sandstone Fossils of Connecticut River. 
By James Deane, M. D. 
Prior to the year 1835, the indications of organic life, co-existing with the sandstone 
deposition of Connecticut River, were exclusively confined to a few genera of lietero- 
cercal fishes. This rock w r as formerly supposed to he so destitute of animal remains, 
that when in this year I opened a new chapter of its organic history, my discoveries 
were treated with incredulity and neglect. But, after the investigations of twenty 
years that have resulted, it is known to be exceedingly rich in the imperishable 
materials of geological history. Very few indeed have any conception of the 
marvellous perfection of these fossil inscriptions, or of the multitudes of once living 
creatures whose existence they commemorate. During the vast sandstone deposition, 
it is presumed that animals whose instincts and organizations attracted them to littoral 
margins, were as numerous as their living representatives. The immense groups of 
birds embraced countless individuals who have inscribed upon the shores whereon 
they congregated their unmistakeable and instructive history. Most of the finest im¬ 
pressions have never been described, and the rich discoveries of late years, render a 
thorough revision of these fossils indispensable to a clear comprehension of the sublime 
truths thej^ teach. 
Other inferior creatures existed in astonishing profusion during the sandstone 
period, and like the birds, have left the imprints of their feet vivid as upon the day 
they were made. The presumption is that they embraced as a class, animals no 
higher in the scale of organization than vertebrated reptiles. They were quadrupedal, 
and were grouped into several orders; Saurians, Batrachians and Chelonians. Of the 
saurian and batrachian orders I am acquainted with twenty species at least, and shall 
present herewith a notice of ten of that number. In one essential feature all these 
impressions concur, and that is, in the difference in magnitude between the anterior 
and posterior feet, the latter being about four times greater than the former. This 
distinctive character, and the diminutive size of the animals they indicate, appear to 
distinguish them into species, having their affinities in existing salamandrian or tailed 
Batrachians. 
The indications of Tortoises prove them to have been very numerous, but it is 
nearly impossible to detect specific differences. Their movements over soft mud re¬ 
sulted in ploughing up a trace or furrow by the solid armor of their bodies. In some 
instances the swinging movements of their feet are well preserved, and in rare cases 
the pedal imprints are also visible. 
[Extracted from the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 2d series, vol. iii ] 
