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diff --git a/34056.txt b/34056.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..126f2dd --- /dev/null +++ b/34056.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1561 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Remarks on some fossil impressions in the +sandstone rocks of Connecticut River, by John Collins Warren + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Remarks on some fossil impressions in the sandstone rocks of Connecticut River + +Author: John Collins Warren + +Release Date: October 11, 2010 [EBook #34056] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOSSIL IMPRESSIONS--CONNECTICUT RIVER *** + + + + +Produced by Tom Cosmas and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: Slab with fossil impressions] + + + + + REMARKS + ON SOME + FOSSIL IMPRESSIONS + IN + THE SANDSTONE ROCKS OF CONNECTICUT RIVER. + + BY + JOHN C. WARREN, M.D. + PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. + + [Illustration: Logo] + + BOSTON: + TICKNOR AND FIELDS, + 135, Washington Street. + 1854. + + + + BOSTON: + PRINTED BY JOHN WILSON AND SON, + 22, School Street. + + + + +The principal part of these remarks were made at the meetings of +the BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. A portion of them also +have been printed in the Proceedings of the Society. + +The object of this publication is to afford to those who are not +members of the Society an opportunity of obtaining some knowledge +of Fossil Impressions, which they might not be able to obtain +elsewhere so conveniently. + +Some account of the Epyornis seems to be very properly connected +with Ornithichnites. + +The first of these papers was written in October, 1853; the others +in the earlier part of the present year. + + + + + [Illustration: Epyornis] + + + THE EPYORNIS; + + OR, + + GREAT BIRD OF MADAGASCAR, AND ITS EGGS. + + +In the course of the year 1851, an account was circulated of the +discovery of an immense egg, or eggs, in the Island of Madagascar. The +size of the eggs spoken of was so disproportionate to that of any +previously known, that most persons received the account with +incredulity; and, I must confess, I was one of this number. Being in +Paris soon after hearing of this report, I made inquiry on the +subject, and was surprised to learn, that the great egg was actually +existing in the Museum of Natural History in Paris. In a few days I +had an opportunity of seeing a cast of it in the hands of the artist, +M. Strahl, of whom I solicited one. He informed me that it could not +be obtained at that moment; but that, if my request were made known to +the Administration of the Museum, he had no doubt they would accede to +it. I accordingly did apply, and also presented them with the cast of +a perfect head of Mastodon Giganteus; and they very liberally granted +my request. + +The distinguished naturalist, Professor Geoffroy St. Hilaire, the +second of that honorable name, has made a statement to the Academy of +Sciences, which, though only initiatory, contains many facts of a very +interesting nature, some of which I have had an opportunity of +verifying; and to him we are indebted for a greater part of the +others. + +The eggs sent to me are, in number, two; one of which was purchased by +M. Abadie, captain of a French vessel, from the natives. Another was +soon afterwards found, equal in size. A third egg was discovered in an +alluvial stratum near a stream of water, together with other valuable +relics of the animal which had probably produced them; but, +unfortunately, it was broken during transportation. Of the two eggs, +one is of an ovoid form, having much the shape of a hen's egg; and the +other is an ellipsoid. + +The ovoid egg is of enormous size, even when compared with the largest +egg we are acquainted with. Its long diameter exceeds thirteen inches +of our English measure, its short diameter eight, and its long +circumference thirty-three inches. Its capacity is thought to be equal +to eighteen liquid pints, or to be six times greater than that of the +largest egg known to us (the ostrich), although but twice its length. +It is said to be equal to a hundred and forty-eight hen eggs. The +ellipsoid egg has its longest diameter somewhat less than that of the +ovoid; its short diameter nearly equals that of the other egg, being +more than eight inches. The third egg, although broken, has been very +useful to science, by displaying the thickness of the shell, which is +about one-tenth of an inch. + +The bones, of which I have received the casts, are three in number, +and of great interest. One of them is a characteristic fragment of the +upper part of a fibula; the other two, still more interesting, as +enabling us to determine the class and genus of the animal to which +they belong, exhibit the extremities of the right and left +tarso-metatarsal bones. The former is somewhat broken; the latter is +nearly perfect, and exhibits the triple division of the inferior +extremity of the bone into the three trochleae or pulley-shaped +processes of the struthious birds. It might be mistaken for a bone of +the great Dinornis, but is distinguished from this by the flatness of +the portion above the trochleae. Still less is it one of the bones of +the ostrich, its three pulleys being separated from each other by +distinct intervals; whereas the pulleys of the ostrich have only one +such separation, constituting two distinct eminences. + +M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire considered himself justified, from these and +other facts, in deciding this bone to belong to a bird of a new genus, +to which he gives the name of EPYORNIS, from _aipys_, _high_, +_tall_, and _ornis_, _bird_; and, as probably it is a specimen of the +largest animal of the family, he affixes the specific name of +_maximus_. + +The size of this bird, inferred from that of its egg, would be vastly +superior to that of the ostrich. But if we notice the comparative size +of the trochleated extremity of the tarso-metatarsal bone, we shall +see that its height would be greatly exaggerated by adopting such a +basis for its establishment; in fact, it would not probably exceed a +height double that of the ostrich. And, though it must have been +superior to that of the Dinornis maximus of Prof. Owen, it might +perhaps excel it only by the difference of two or three feet. A bird +of twelve or thirteen feet in height would, however, if we stood in +its presence, appear enormous, and must have greatly astonished and +terrified the natives of Madagascar. Whether it now exists is +uncertain, as it may possibly have a habitation in the wild recesses +of the island, which have never yet been visited by any European +traveller. + +The credit of most of the observations and discoveries relating to +this remarkable bird is attributable to French naturalists;[A] and it +seems to be a duty devolving on English and American navigators to +complete the history thus happily begun, and to tell us whether the +Epyornis still exists in the mountain-forests of Madagascar, or at +least present us with its extraordinary relics. + + [Footnote A: The following are the names of French travellers, who + have been supposed to have seen the eggs of the Epyornis in the + Island of Madagascar: M. Sganzin, in 1831; M. Goudot, in 1833; M. + Dumarele, in 1848; and M. Abadie, in 1850.] + + + + + FOSSIL IMPRESSIONS.--I. + + +Ichnology, a newly created branch of science, takes its name from the +Greek word _ichnos_, a _track_ or _footstep_, and the tracks +themselves have been denominated Ichnites, or, when they refer to +birds only, Ornithichnites, from _ornis_, a _bird_. And this last term +has by custom been generally applied to ancient impressions, though +not correctly. + +Geology has revealed to us not only the remains of animals and +vegetables, but the impressions made by them during their lives, and +even the impressions of unorganized bodies. The first notice of these +appearances was, as often happens, regarded with indifference or +scepticism; but their number and variety enlightened the public mind, +and opened a new source of information and improvement. + +The first remarkable observation made on fossil footsteps was that of +the Rev. Dr. Duncan, of Scotland, in 1828. He noticed, in a _new red +sandstone_ quarry in Dumfriesshire, impressions of the feet of small +animals of the tortoise kind, having four feet, and five toes on each +foot. They were seen in various layers through a thickness of forty +feet or more. + +Sandstone, in which these impressions are principally discovered, is a +rock composed chiefly of siliceous and micaceous particles cemented +together by calcareous or argillaceous paste, containing salt, and +colored with various shades of the oxide of iron, particularly the +red, gray, brown. It has been remarked by Prof. H. D. Rogers, that the +perfection of the surface containing fossil footmarks is often +attributable to a micaceous deposit. The layers of sandstone have been +formed by deposits from sea-water, dried in succession; such layers +are also seen in the roofing slate. These deposits on the shores of +the ocean, having in a soft condition received the impressions of the +feet of birds, other animals, vegetables, and also of rain-drops, +under favorable circumstances dried, hardened, and formed a rock of +greater or less solidity. Our colleague, Dr. Gould, has exhibited to +us a specimen of dried clay from the shores of the Bay of Fundy, +containing beautiful impressions, recently made, of the footsteps of +birds. The particles brought by the waves, and deposited in the manner +described, were derived from the destruction of other rocks previously +existing, particularly granite and flint, or silex, the shining atoms +of which compose no small part of the sandstone rock. + +It is easy to conceive, that, while these deposits were taking place +in the soft condition, portions of vegetable matters might become +intermixed; and that these, with the impressions of the feet and other +parts of animals and unorganized substances, might be preserved by the +process of desiccation. The agency of internal heat may have also been +employed in some cases in baking and hardening these crusty layers. + +The sandstone rock, though in some places actually in a state of +formation at the present time, lies in such a manner in the earth's +crust as to indicate an immense antiquity. The age of these beds +varies in different situations. The sandstone rocks which contain the +greater part of the impressions are called _new red sandstone_, to +distinguish them from the _old red_, which is of a greater age. The +deposits on Connecticut River may not be attributed to the action of +this river, but are of higher antiquity, probably, than the river +itself, and proceeded from the waves of an ancient sea, existing in a +state of the surface of the globe very different from that of the +present day. + +In 1834, tracks were discovered near Hildberghausen in Saxony, to +which Prof. Kaup, of Darmstadt, gave the name of Chirotherium, from +the resemblance to the impressions of the human hand. On a subsequent +examination, Prof. Owen preferred the name of Labyrinthodon, from the +resemblance of the folds in the teeth to the convolutions of the +brain. + +Various other instances of impressions were seen; and, in the year +1835, Dr. Deane and Mr. Marsh, residents of Greenfield, noticed +impressions resembling the feet of birds in sandstone rocks of that +neighborhood. These observations having come to the knowledge of +President Hitchcock, of Amherst College, that gentleman began a +thorough investigation of the subject, followed it up with unremitted +ardor, and has, since 1836 (the date of his first publication), laid +before the public a great amount of ichnological information, and +really created a new science. Dr. Deane, on his part, has not been +idle: besides making valuable discoveries, he has written a number of +excellent papers to record some portion of his numerous observations. + +In 1837, at the request of my friend Dr. Boott, I carried to London, +for the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, various scientific +objects peculiar to this country; among which were a number of casts +of Ornithichnites. + +These casts were kindly furnished me by President Hitchcock, and the +Government of the Royal College thereon voted to present to President +Hitchcock and Amherst College casts of the skeleton of the famous +Megatherium of South America. These casts were packed, and sent to be +embarked in a ship destined for Boston, but were unluckily delivered +to a wrong shipping house in London, and I lost sight of them for some +time. They were at length discovered. After remaining in this +situation for more than a year, they were sold at public auction; and, +notwithstanding many efforts on my part, I was unable to obtain and +transmit them to Amherst College. + +The fossil impressions which have been distinguished in various places +in the new red sandstone are those of birds, frogs, turtles, lizards, +fishes, mollusca, crustacea, worms, and zoophytes. Besides these, the +impressions made by rain-drops, ripple-marks in the sand, coprolites +or indurated remains of faeces of animals, and even impressions of +vegetables, have been preserved and transmitted from a remote +antiquity. No authentic human impressions have yet been established; +and none of the mammalia, except the marsupials.(?) We must, however, +remember that, although the early paleontology contains no record of +birds, the ancient existence of these animals is now fully +ascertained. Remains of birds were discovered in the Paris gypsum by +Cuvier previous to 1830. Since that time, they have been found in the +Lower Eocene in England, and the Swiss Alps; and there is reason to +believe that osseous relics may be met with in the same deposits which +contain the foot-marks. Most of the bird-tracks which have been +observed, belong to the wading birds, or Grallae. + +The number of toes in existing birds varies from two to five. In the +fossil bird-tracks, the most frequent number is three, called +tridactylous; but there are instances also of four or tetradactylous, +and two or didactylous. The number of articulations corresponds in +ornithichnites with living birds: when there are four toes, the inner +or hind toe has two articulations, the second toe three, the third toe +four, the outer toe five. The impressions of the articulations are +sometimes very distinct, and even that of the skin covering them. + +President Hitchcock has distinguished more than thirty species of +birds, four of lizards, three of tortoises, and six of batrachians. + +The great difference in the characters of many fossil animals from +those of existing genera and species, in the opinion of Prof. Agassiz, +makes it probable that in various instances the traces of supposed +birds may be in fact traces of other animals, as, for example, those +of the lizard or frog. And he supports this opinion, among other +reasons, by the disappearance of the heel in a great number of +Ornithichnites. + +D'Orbigny, to whom we are indebted for the most ample and systematic +work on Paleontology ("Cours Elementaire de Paleontologie et de +Geologie," 5 vols. 1849-52), does not accept the arrangement of +President Hitchcock. He objects to the term Ornithichnites, and +proposes what he considers a more comprehensive arrangement into +organic, physiological, and physical impressions. _Organic +impressions_ are those which have been produced by the remains of +organized substances, such as vegetable impressions from calamites, +&c. _Physiological impressions_ are those produced by the feet and +other parts of animals. _Physical impressions_ are those from +rain-drops and ripple-marks; and to these may be added coprolites in +substance. This plan of D'Orbigny seems to exclude the curious and +interesting distinctions of groups, genera, and species; in this way +diminishing the importance of the science of Ichnology. + +Fossil impressions have been found on this continent in the +carboniferous strata of Nova Scotia, and of the Alleghenies; in the +sandstone of New Jersey, and in that of the Connecticut Valley in a +great number of places, from the town of Gill in Massachusetts to +Middletown in Connecticut, a distance of about eighty miles. + +A slab from Turner's Falls, obtained for me by Dr. Deane in 1845, +measuring two feet by two and a half, and two inches in thickness, +contains at least ten different sets of impressions, varying from five +inches in length to two and a half, with a proportionate length of +stride from thirteen inches to six. All these are tridactylous, and +represent at least four different species. In most of them the +distinction of articulation is quite clear. The articulations of each +toe can readily be counted, and they are found to agree with the +general statement made above as to number. The impressions are +singularly varied as to depth; some of them, perfectly distinct, are +superficial, like those made by the fingers laid lightly on a mass of +dough, while others are of sufficient depth nearly to bury the toes; +some of the tracks cross each other, and, being of different sizes, +belong to animals of different ages or different species. There is one +curious instance of the tracks of a large and heavy bird, in which, +from the softness of the mud, the bird slipped in a lateral direction, +and then gained a firm footing; the mark of the first step, though +deep, is ill-defined and uncertain; the space intervening between the +tracks is superficially furrowed; in the settled step, which is the +deepest, the toes are very strongly indicated. On the same surface are +impressions of nails, which may have belonged to birds or chelonians. + +The inferior surface of the same slab exhibits appearances more +superficial, less numerous, but generally regular. There are three +sets of tracks entirely distinct from each other; two of them +containing three tracks, and one containing two,--the latter being +much the largest in size. In addition, there is one set of tracks, +which are probably those of a tortoise. These marks present two other +points quite observable and interesting. One is that they are +displayed in relief, while those on the upper surface are in +depression. The relief in this lower surface would be the cast of a +cavity in the layer below; so the depressions in the upper surface +would be moulds of casts above. The second point is the +non-correspondence of the upper and lower surfaces; i.e. the +depressions in the upper surface have not a general correspondence +with the elevations on its inferior surface. The tracks above were +made by different individuals and different species from those below. +This leads to another interesting consideration, that in the thickness +of this slab there must be a number of different layers, and in each +of them there may be a different series of tracks. + +To these last remarks there is one exception: the deep impression in +which the bird slipped in a lateral direction corresponds with an +elevation on the lower surface, in which the impression of these toes +is very distinctly displayed, and even the articulations. Moreover, +one of the tracks on the inferior surface interferes with the outer +track in the superior, and tends in an opposite direction, so that +this last-described footstep must have been made before the other. It +is also observable, that, while all the other tracks are superficial, +this last penetrates the whole thickness of the slab; thus showing +that the different deposits continued some time in a soft state. + +On the surfaces of this slab, particularly on the upper, there are +various marks besides those of the feet, some of which seem to have +been made by straws, or portions of grass, or sticks; and there is a +curved line some inches in length, which seems to have arisen from +shrinkage. + +In the collection of Mr. Marsh,[B] there were two slabs of great size, +each measuring ten by six feet, having a great number of impressions +of feet, and about the same thickness as the slab under examination. +One of these presented depressions; and the other, corresponding +reliefs. These very interesting relations were necessarily parted in +the sale of Mr. Marsh's collection; one of them being obtained for the +Boston Society of Natural History, and the other for the collection of +Amherst College. + + [Footnote B: Mr. Marsh was a mechanic of the town of Greenfield, + and procured his subsistence by his daily labor. Being employed by + Dr. Deane in obtaining the sandstone slabs of Ornithichnites, he + acquired a taste for the pursuit, entered into it with + extraordinary ardor, and accumulated by his own labors a great + collection of fine specimens. He unfortunately fell into a + consumption, and died in 1852. The collection was sold at public + auction for a sum between two and three thousand dollars. The + specimens were purchased by the Boston Society of Natural History, + by Amherst College, and by varioud colleges and scientific + associations in this country.] + +The _Physical Impressions_, according to Professor D'Orbigny, are +of three kinds, viz.: 1st, Rain-drops; 2d, Ripple-marks; and 3d, +Coprolites. I have a slab which exhibits two leptodactylous +tracks very distinct, about an inch and a half long, surrounded +by impressions of rain-drops and ripple-marks. Another specimen +exhibits the impressions of rain in a more distinct and remarkable +manner. The imprints are of various sizes, from those which might +be made by a common pea to others four times its diameter; some +are deep, others superficial and almost imperceptible. They are +generally circular, but some are ovoid. Some have the edge equally +raised around, as if struck by a perpendicular drop; and others +have the edge on one part faintly developed, while another part is +very sharp and well defined, as if the drop had struck obliquely. +It has been suggested, that these fossil rain-drops may have been +made by particles of hail; but I think the variety of size and +depth of depression would have been more considerable if thus +made. + +Although we have necessarily treated the subject of fossil +footmarks in a very brief way, sufficient has been said to show +that this new branch of Paleontology may lead to interesting +results. The fact that they are, in some manner, peculiar to this +region, seems to call upon our Society to obtain a sufficient +number of specimens to exhibit to scientific men a fair +representation of the condition of Ichnology in this quarter of +our country; and we have therefore great reason to congratulate +ourselves, that, through the vigilance and spirit of our members, +the Society has the expectation of obtaining a rich collection +of ichnological specimens. + + + + + FOSSIL IMPRESSIONS.--II. + + +Since writing the preceding article, I have been able to obtain, +through the kindness of President Hitchcock, a number of additional +specimens of fossil impressions. By the aid of these, I may hope to +give an idea of the system of impressions, so far as it has been +discovered, without, however, attempting to enter into minute details. +For these, I would refer to the account of the "Geology of +Massachusetts," by President Hitchcock; to his valuable article +published in the "Memoirs of the American Academy;" and to his +geological works generally. + +The numerous tracks which have been assembled together in the +neighborhood of Connecticut River have afforded an opportunity of +prosecuting these studies to an extent unusual in the primitive rocky +soil of New England. These appearances are not, indeed, wholly new. +Such traces had been previously met with in other countries; but, in +their number and variety, the valley of the Connecticut abounds above +all places hitherto investigated. + +Twenty years have elapsed since the study of Ichnology has been +prosecuted in this country; and, in this period of time, about +forty-nine species of animal tracks have been distinguished in the +locality mentioned, according to President Hitchcock; which have been +regularly arranged by him in groups, genera, and species. + +I propose now to lay the specimens, recently obtained, before the +Society, as a slight preparation for the more numerous and more +valuable articles which they are soon to receive. + +The traces found on ancient rocks, as has been shown in the previous +article, are those of animals, vegetables, and unorganized substances. +The traces of animals are produced by quadrupeds, birds, lizards, +turtles, frogs, mollusca, worms, crustacea, and zoophytes. These +impressions are of various forms: some of them simple excavations; +some lines, either straight or curved, and others complicated into +various figures. + +President Hitchcock has based his distinctions of fossil animal +impressions on the following characters, viz.:-- + + 1. Toes thick, pachydactylous; or thin, leptodactylous. + 2. Feet winged. + 3. Number of toes from two to five, inclusive. + 4. Absolute and relative length of the toes. + 5. Divarication of the lateral toes. + 6. Angle made by the inner and middle, outer and middle toes. + 7. Projection of the middle beyond the lateral toes. + 8. Distance between tips of lateral toes. + 9. Distance between tips of middle and inner and outer toes. + 10. Position and direction of hind toe. + 11. Character of claw. + 12. Width of toes. + 13. Number and length of phalangeal expansions. + 14. Character of the heel. + 15. Irregularities of under side of foot. + 16. Versed sine of curvature of toes. + 17. Angle of axis of foot with line of direction. + 18. Distance of posterior part of the foot from line of direction. + 19. Length of step. + 20. Size of foot. + 21. Character of the integuments of the foot. + 22. Coprolites. + 23. Means of distinguishing bipedal from quadrupedal tracks. + +By these characters, President Hitchcock has distinguished +physiological tracks, or those made by animated beings, into ten +groups provisionally. To these may be added, "organic impressions," +made by organized bodies; and the impressions made by inanimate +bodies, called "physical impressions." + +The specimens under our hands enable us to give some notion of the +distinctions which characterize the greater part of these groups. + + * * * * * + + GROUP FIRST--STRUTHIONES. + +The ostrich-tracks present a numerous natural and most remarkable +group; remarkable from the great size of some species,--all of them +tridactylous and pachydactylous. The ostrich of the Old World has only +two toes, but this family exists in South America at the present time +under the name of Rhea Americana; and tracks of an animal, probably of +the same family, are found in the numerous impressions near +Connecticut River,--all of them having three toes in front, and the +rudiment of a fourth behind. + +This group contains a number of genera. The FIRST GENUS, denominated +_Brontozoum_, presents the tracks of a most extraordinary bird. These +tracks appear less questionable since the discovery in Madagascar of +the eggs of the Epyornis. + +The tracks of the largest species, the BRONTOZOUM GIGANTEUM, are +four times the magnitude of those made by the existing ostrich of +Africa. They are very numerous, and congregated together. The foot of +the Brontozoum Giganteum, including the inferior extremity of the +tarso-metatarsal bone, which makes a part of the foot, measures in our +specimen twenty inches; in the Mastodon Giganteus, the foot measures +twenty-seven inches; the width also is less, being ten inches across +the metacarpals, while that of the Mastodon is twenty-two: but the one +is a bird, the other a quadruped. The toes are three in number, and +present the same divisions with existing birds; the inner toe having +three, the middle four, the outer five phalanges. Some of the +articulations of the toes of this noble specimen are remarkable for +the manner in which they illustrate the mode of formation of the +tracks. These phalanges have become separated from the solid rock in +which they were encased, so as to be removable at pleasure; and they +thus show that the whole foot is not a simple impression in the rock +which contains it, but a depression filled by foreign materials, i.e. +by sand, clay, and other relics of pre-existing rocks. These materials +had been gradually deposited in the mould formed by the bird's foot, +and are therefore independent of this rock, in the same way as the +plaster-of-Paris cast of a tooth, or any other body, is independent of +the mould to which it owes its form. The impressions are in gray +sandstone. + +On the reversed surface of the slab is seen a small piece of broken +quartz, about half an inch square. This piece forms a beautiful +illustration of a part of the process by which the sandstone rocks are +formed. + +The second species of the same genus is the BRONTOZOUM SILLIMANIUM. +Of this we have three specimens; the tracks have the same general +character with the preceding, but are smaller. + +The third species of this genus is styled the BRONTOZOUM LOXONYX, +from _loxos_, a _bow_, and _onyx_, a _nail_,--a curved nail. It is +smaller than the Sillimanium, and has the nail set to one side. + +The fourth species, still smaller, is the Brontozoum Gracillimum. On +this slab the impressions are in relief; viz.: 1st, of Brontozoum +Gracillimum; 2d, of Brontozoum Parallelum; 3d, of the track of a +tortoise, fourteen inches long, and two wide. Other extensive +eminences and depressions, with rain-drops, may be observed on the +same surface. + +The fifth species is called BRONTOZOUM PARALLELUM, from the tracks +being on a line with each other. Of this there are two specimens, one +of them, however, being a single track. On the surface of the other +slab there are at least five distinct tracks, one of them being a +small new and undescribed species,--thus making the whole number of +species of Brontozoum which we possess to be at least six. + +The SECOND GENUS of Struthiones is called _AEthyopus_, from +_aithuia_, a _gull_, and _pous_, a _foot_,--gull-footed. This genus +is smaller than the Brontozoum Giganteum; and we have two species, +viz. the AETHYOPUS LYELLIANUS, which is the larger, and two specimens +of AETHYOPUS MINOR. All of these are distinguished from the preceding +genus by the winged foot, and in the Lyellianus by the shallowness of +the impression. The AEthyopus Minor is not always distinguished by the +superficiality of its impression. This is sometimes deep. Therefore +this character may not be considered a distinctive one, or the +AEthyopus Minor might be referred to another genus. Of the two +specimens of this latter species, the first is in depression, +tridactylous. The depressions are deep with rain-drops, marks of +quadrupeds and zoophytes over the whole surface. The ornithichnic +impressions are two in number; one superficial, the other very deep. +The reversed surface of this slab contains one tridactylous impression +in relief. The second specimen has three depressions; two of which are +superficial, and the third is quite deep, displaying, by a depressed +surface, the webbed character of the foot. + + * * * * * + + GROUP SECOND. + +We shall take, to characterize this group, the _Argozoum_, from +_arges_, _swift_, _winged_. + +Of this genus there are two species, the larger of which is the +ARGOZOUM DISPARIDIGITATUM. It is leptodactylous, and remarkable for +the length of the middle toe. We have another species, which is +smaller than the last named, and in which the toes are nearly of equal +length; hence called ARGOZOUM PARIDIGITATUM. + +The other genus of this group is the PLATYPTERNA, and our specimen +is named _Deaniana_. This genus is remarkable for the width of the +heel; hence the name, from _platys_, _broad_, and _pterna_, _a heel_. +It has three toes like the other genera of this group. + + * * * * * + + GROUP THIRD. + +This and the succeeding group are tetradactylous; having one toe +behind, three forwards. + +The third group is leptodactylous; foot usually small, but sometimes +of medium size. Of it we have two specimens, viz.: ORNITHOPUS +GALLINACEUS, and ORNITHOPUS GRACILIS. The former is so called from the +resemblance to the domestic fowl: for convenience sake, in this and +other instances, we use the whole for a part. It is about three inches +in length, and the Ornithopus Gracilis about two. + +This latter specimen is particularly interesting. It consists of two +parts, which open like the covers of a book. These covers present four +impressions: first, the superficial, which is distinct, slender, and +beautiful--the heel is broad; second, corresponding with this +depression and on the inside, is a figure in relief as distinct as the +depression; third, on the inside of the second cover is a depression +corresponding with the relief last mentioned; fourth, on the outer +side is a second relief corresponding with the second depression, but +less distinct than either of the other three, still, however, +exhibiting three toes pointing anteriorly, but the hind toe is +wanting. The whole of this double slab forms a series of cameos and +intaglios, measuring four inches by three, and in thickness an inch +and a quarter. + + * * * * * + + GROUP FOURTH. + +Of the fourth group we have five specimens. The _Triaenopus_, so called +from its resemblance to a trident, has besides three leptodactylous +toes pointing forwards, a fourth extending backwards in a remarkable +way, like the handle of a trident; the impression, however, being +expanded so as to show an extensive displacement of the mud. All the +specimens of Triaenopus are in a beautiful red shale, very thin and +fragile, but presenting well-defined impressions, generally about +three inches long. + +There are two species to this genus. Of the TRIAENOPUS EMMONSIANUS we +notice three impressions in relief. In another specimen there is the +appearance of a part of the toes of the Anomoepus Scambus, and on the +upper side are seen two excavations corresponding with the three +impressions. In the last slab, the track of the TRIAENOPUS BAILEYANUS +appears to have been made by two feet placed successively in the same +spot, which led President Hitchcock to suspect it might have been made +by a quadruped. One of the specimens has the Triaenopus tracks +intermixed in a peculiar way with other impressions. + +The specimen representing the genus HARPEDACTYLUS is larger than the +preceding; and, though leptodactylous, the toes are much broader and +also more curved, whence the name Harpedactylus, _sickle-finger_, from +_harpe_ and _daktylos_. + + * * * * * + + GROUP FIFTH. + +The fifth group differs much from the four previous ones. In this and +the following groups we pass from the vestiges of birds to those of +other animals, some of which are bipeds, some quadrupeds. Many +impressions are without any distinct character, belonging probably to +the lower animals, to vegetables, and unorganized bodies. + +The fifth group comprehends the tracks of an extraordinary animal, the +OTOZOUM.[C] The name which has been given to it is taken from that +of an ancient giant, Otus, who with his brother Ephialtes, according +to heathen mythology, made war with the gods. These fabled giants +were, at nine years of age, nine cubits in width and nine fathoms in +height. + + [Footnote C: The specific name of Moodii has been attached to the + Otozoum, from its having been discovered by Mr. Moody.] + +The foot is divided into four toes; the two outer of which seem to be +connected by a common basis. The inner toe has three phalanges; the +second toe, also three; the third and fourth toes, four each. The +first is the shortest, the second longer, the third longest, the +fourth shorter than the third. It will appear, then, that this track +differs from that of birds in the number of toes pointing forwards; +these being four, while in birds the forward toes are only three. +There is a difference also in the number and arrangement of the +articulations. + +The track in our possession is twenty inches long by thirteen and a +half inches broad. The rock in which it is imbedded is a dark-colored +sandstone. President Hitchcock has a slab showing a regular series of +tracks of this animal; the distance between the steps being about +three feet, and the tracks equidistant and alternate, which would not +be the case if the animal had been quadrupedal. In a quadruped, the +horse for example, the hind feet are set down near the fore feet, and +sometimes even strike them. Hence it must be inferred that the track +in question was that of a biped, or of a quadruped which did not use +its fore feet in progression, like a kangaroo. We naturally ask, What +kind of biped could this have been? Evidently not a man, the size of +the foot being too large to admit such a supposition; nor could it +have been a bird, the number of toes and their direction not admitting +this hypothesis. + +Tetradactylous birds, or those which have four toes, have only three +of them directed forwards, and the fourth backwards, generally. There +are, however, exceptions; some birds have four toes directed forwards: +this is the fact with the Hirundo Cypselus and the Pelicanus Aquilus +of Linnaeus, or Man-of-war Bird. But the articulations are different in +the two animals, birds having regularly two, three, four, and five +phalanges, and the spur, where it exists, supported by a single +osseous phalanx; whereas the Otozoum has three phalanges in the inner +and second toe, four in the third and fourth toes. In this last +arrangement, the Otozoum is decidedly different from all known birds. +It is not likely to have been a tortoise or a lizard. The kangaroo has +four feet, and uses only two in progression, moving forward by leaps; +also, like the Otozoum, it has four toes; but the size of the toes +does not accord with that of the Otozoum, nor is the structure of the +foot the same, so far as we know. It has been suggested by Professor +Agassiz, that this animal might have been a two-footed frog. Nature +had, in those days, animal forms different from those we are +acquainted with; and this might have been the fact with the Otozoum. + + * * * * * + + GROUP SIXTH. + +We have in this group a specimen of the track of a four-footed animal, +which may have been a frog, though different from ours. The feet are +unequal in size, and present a different number of toes. In existing +frogs there are four toes in the fore feet, and five in the hind; but, +in the specimen before us, the front toes are five in number, and the +back toes three. It is called, therefore, ANOMOEPUS, _unequal-footed_. +These impressions are in the red shale of Hadley, and very distinct. +In some of them the lower leg is indicated, forming an impression six +or seven inches long. The feet being smaller than the legs, the +impression made by the latter is more expanded, superficial, and +broader, yet still very definite. The opinion of President Hitchcock +and Dr. Deane is, that the different impressions of five and three +toes are those of the anterior and posterior extremities of one animal, +which, from the size of the limbs, might be a frog three feet high. + +On the same schist with these footmarks, are other curious +impressions. The back of the slab is almost covered with the imprints +of rain-drops. In the midst of these is a tridactylous impression, +probably of a quadruped, crossed at its root by a single depression, +nearly an inch broad, and two and a half long: this seems to form part +of another broad superficial impression of about seven by four inches, +which is probably also quadrupedal. Other parts present the +impressions of nails and worm-tracks. At the opposite end is a deep, +smooth, regular excavation, which might have been made by a Medusa. + + * * * * * + + GROUP SEVENTH. + +The seventh group contains the impressions of the feet of Saurians or +lizards. We have a specimen of quadrupedal marks, with five toes to +each foot, about an inch long, which may have been made by these +animals. The impressions are small, but very distinct. There are +lizards of the present day with five toes, about the size of these +impressions; and these may, therefore, be set down as belonging to +this order of reptiles. Like a number of the last-named specimens, +they are in red shale. + + * * * * * + + GROUP EIGHTH. + +The eighth group is assigned by President Hitchcock to the Chelonian +or turtle tribe. The slab bearing impressions of Brontozoum +Gracillimum has a mark about fourteen inches long and two wide, which +may be attributed to the plastron or breast-plate of the tortoise. On +the slab from Turner's Falls there is a longitudinal furrow, which +might have been made by the tail of a turtle; and in various of our +slabs are impressions which we think belong to this tribe. We shall +have occasion to notice hereafter remarkable tracks of these animals +in the old red of Morayshire, in Scotland. + +The most distinct of the traces of chelonians are on the large slab +lately obtained for me by President Hitchcock from Greenfield. (_Vide_ +Plate.) This interesting slab contains the traces of quadrupeds, +various birds, and two trails of chelonians: the largest of these is +nearly five feet long, and four inches in diameter. The trail is +composed of a number of parallel elevations, comparatively +superficial. + + * * * * * + + GROUP NINTH. + +Of the ninth group, containing the marks of Annelidae, Crustacea, and +Zoophytes, we have various specimens. + +The impressions of insects do not seem as yet to have been +distinguished on the ancient rocks. There is reason to believe, +however, that many of the marks we discover in the rocky beds might +have been made by the feet and bodies of large insects; and small +species of the same tribes have been found imbedded in, and actually +constituting, immense masses of calcareous and siliceous rocks. + +The tracks of worms are numerous. No doubt these worms drew together a +concourse of birds to the shores on which they rolled. On various +slabs we find long cylindrical furrows, about the eighth of an inch in +diameter, and of different lengths; one of them, in the slab from Dr. +Deane, being eight or nine inches long. To these impressions the name +of HERPYSTEZOUM, from _herpystes_, _crawling_, has been given. They +vary, however, and some of them are very likely to be the tracks of +the common earth-worm, or of some species of worm which existed when +these rocks were formed. These impressions vary in length and in +diameter; some of them are moderately regular, and others irregularly +curved. + +Very interesting tracks have been found in the ancient Potsdam white +sandstone of Beauharnais, on the St. Lawrence, by Mr. Logan, an +excellent geologist of Canada, and determined by Professor Owen to +belong to Crustacea, crabs. The number of impressions made by each +foot is sometimes seven, sometimes eight, and even more. This track, +showing the traces of Crustacea, goes to form another link in the +chain of fossil footsteps. + +The Medusae, commonly called jelly-fish, dissolving as they do under +the influence of the sun and air, would hardly be expected to leave +their traces impressed on ancient rocks. Professor D'Orbigny, however, +has watched the dissolution of these animals on the sea-shore, and +found that, after wasting, they may leave their impressions on the +sand; which, not being disturbed by a high tide for nearly a month, +retains the impression of the zoophyte, and serves as a mould to +receive materials which take a cast and transmit it to subsequent +ages. We find one of these impressions on the slab of the Anomoepus +Scambus; and President Hitchcock, having examined it, is of opinion +that it retains the traces of a Medusa. The impression is about five +inches in diameter, of a darker color and smoother texture than the +rest of the rock. Its edges fade away gradually in the surface of the +subjacent sandstone. A similar impression is found on the superior +surface of the slab containing the Argozoum. + + * * * * * + + GROUP TENTH. + +The tenth group contains the HARPAGOPUS, a name derived from +_harpage_, _seizure_, _rapine_. It is represented by President +Hitchcock as having the form of a drag. The figure given by him +resembles in a degree the foot of the African ostrich; being a long +thick toe, with a shorter one, not unlike a thumb, on the side. An +impression approximating this, but of small size, may be seen on the +slab of the Anomoepus Scambus. + + * * * * * + +The formation of bird-tracks is well represented by a clay specimen, +about an inch thick, and ten inches long. This is a piece of dried +clay, obtained by President Hitchcock from the banks of the +Connecticut, and produced by washings from clay on the shore above, +covered with foot-impressions of a small tridactylous bird, and dried +in the sun. This piece shows, in a way not to be questioned, the +manner in which the ancient vestiges were produced. Sir Charles Lyell +noticed a similar fact on the banks of the Bay of Fundy. + + + + + ORGANIC IMPRESSIONS. + + +The _second_ great division of fossil impressions is called ORGANIC, +meaning impressions made by organized bodies; the bones of animals, +fishes, and vegetables. + +Near one extremity of the slab of the Ornithopus Gallinaceus is an +elevation, about a foot long, and between one and two inches wide, +projecting from the surface nearly half an inch. It has the appearance +of a round bar of iron imbedded in the rock, which is clayey +sandstone. This apparent bar of iron was probably a bone, buried in +the stone, now silicified and impregnated with iron; the animal matter +having entirely disappeared. In the slab of the Brontozoum Sillimanium +is a projection about seven or eight inches long, and half an inch +wide; probably the bone of an animal, perhaps a clavicle of the +Brontozoum Giganteum. + +The vestiges of fishes are very numerous in the sandstone rocks of +Connecticut River. We have not less than two dozen specimens from this +locality; a number equal to all the other specimens in our collection. +These impressions of fishes are generally from three to six inches +long, and three or four inches wide. They are of the grand division +denominated by Professor Agassiz "heterocercal," having their tails +unequally bilobed, from the partial prolongation of the dorsal spine; +and they are considered to be of lower antiquity than the fishes which +are entirely heterocercal. The most remarkable of the fish-specimens +in our collection is a CEPHALASPIS (?): this fish is found in the +specimen containing tracks of the Brontozoum Gracillimum, and traces +of a turtle or tortoise. This fossil was discovered in the upper layer +of the old red sandstone of Scotland, and had been mistaken by some +for a trilobite: to us it appeared to be a Limulus, but further +observation leads us to believe it to be a _Cephalaspis_. It exhibits +a convex disc, four inches across, by two inches from above downwards, +and a tail at right angles with the disc, the uncovered part of which +is three inches long. The animal has been described by Professor +Agassiz as being composed of a strong buckler, with a pointed horn at +either termination of the crescent, and an angular tail. + +To the vegetable impressions discovered among the sandstone rocks a +peculiar name has not yet been assigned. When, however, we consider +the strong probability that many impressions of stalks, leaves, +fruits, and other parts of vegetables, may be hereafter discovered in +these rocks, it will be found convenient to have a distinctive +denomination. Vast numbers of vegetable impressions of a distinct and +beautiful appearance, and in great variety, have been found in the +coal-formation, which is nearly allied to the sandstone: such are the +Sigillaria, Stigmaria, Equisetaceae, Lycopodiaceae, Coniferae, Cycadeae, +&c. It is sufficient to say that the number of these has been already +swelled to many hundreds: we must also believe, that some of the +impressions in sandstone rocks which have been assigned to other +substances ought to be attributed to vegetables. We may, therefore, +venture to call the vegetable impressions "phytological." + +A number of our slabs bear impressions of vegetables; either twigs of +trees, or spires of plants. In a fragment broken from one of the toes +of the Brontozoum Giganteum, we see a cylindrical depression, three +inches long, and half an inch in diameter, marked by transverse lines, +about the sixth of an inch apart, and presenting an unquestionable +appearance of a fragment of a twig of an ancient vegetable, which had +been trodden under the foot of the mighty Brontozoum. On the reversed +surface of the same slab are found impressions, which were produced by +a number of fragments of sticks, five or six inches long, lying at +right angles, or nearly so. One of these sticks has been broken, and +its pieces are slightly displaced from each other. Various other +specimens contain the marks of sticks, or twigs of trees. The striae, +so distinctly discernable in a number of these portions, having been +compared with twigs of the existing coniferae (?), were found to +resemble them. Some of these sticks show the appearance of incipient +carbonization; yet the rock is sandstone, presenting, as already +mentioned, distinct appearances of quartz, and other substances of +which the arenaceous rocks are composed. + + + + + PHYSICAL IMPRESSIONS. + + +The _third_ great division of impressions in the sandstone rocks is +called PHYSICAL, meaning those made by inanimate and unorganized +substances; such are rain-drops, ripple-marks, and coprolites. + +1. Marks of rain-drops, described on page 20, appear to be quite +common. We have two or three specimens in relief, and as many in +depression. They occur as follows: 1st, on the upper surface of the +slab first described; 2d, on that of the Platypterna; 3d, on that of +the AEthyopus Lyellianus; 4th, on that of the Brontozoum Gracillimum; +5th, on that of the AEthyopus Minor; 6th, on that of the Anomoepus +Scambus; 7th, on the recent clay; also in one small hand-specimen, and +in a second containing two fishes. They show that, in those ancient +periods when the Brontozoum Giganteum and the Otozoum resided in these +parts, showers were frequent, and probably abundant for the supply of +the wants and the gratification of the appetites of these animals, +then common, but which now appear to us so extraordinary. + +2. Ripple-marks are seen in a number of these pieces; for example, on +the slab first described, on the Brontozoum Sillimanium slab, on the +Brontozoum Gracillimum slab, on one of the Triaenopus, and on the upper +surface of the Greenfield slab. These marks are represented by +parallel curves, or straight lines, distant from each other from half +an inch to an inch, and presenting a slight degree of prominence. +There is another form of ripple-marks(?), differing from those above +described. These are of a circular and mammillary form: they are +strewed thickly, like little islets, approximating to each other. They +are seen distinctly on one of the slabs of the Brontozoum Sillimanium, +on that of the AEthyopus Lyellianus, and some others. Whether they are +to be considered as accumulations of sand and clay, formed by the +action of the sea, we are uncertain; but there seems to be no other +cause to which they can be assigned with so great probability. + +3. _Coprolites_, the fossilized ejections of animals, are intermixed +with other animal vestiges in the sandstone of Connecticut River, and +afford additional proof of the former existence of animals about these +rocks. + + * * * * * + +The latest accounts of fossil footprints we have had occasion to +notice are those of the Crustacea, already mentioned, as found in +Canada, and of the Chelonian in Scotland. The Canadian impressions, +called by Professor Owen Protichnites, were discovered in the year +1847, and were laid before the London Geological Society in 1851. The +most remarkable circumstance about them was their existence, as +already stated, in a white sandstone, near the banks of the River St. +Lawrence, at Beauharnais. This sandstone, which has been described by +New York geologists under the name of Potsdam, is thought to belong to +the Silurian system, and to have a higher antiquity than even the "old +red." + +The Scotch footsteps are situated in the old red sandstone, and are +those of a Chelonian. So that we have now two series of tracks, the +Crustacea in Canada and the Chelonian in Scotland, of higher antiquity +than any which had been previously discovered. + + * * * * * + +On a review of the labors of President Hitchcock, we are struck with +admiration at the immense details that, in the midst of arduous +official and literary duties, he has been able to go through with in +the period since the foot-tracks were discovered on Connecticut River. +Although his labors should be modified by succeeding observers, +Science must be ever grateful to him for laying the foundation, and +doing so much for the completion, of a work so great, novel, and +interesting. + +This inquiry seems to us to promise a rich variety; and we hope that +President Hitchcock and other observers will continue to explore and +cultivate it with undiminished zeal. + + + + + DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATE. + + +We are indebted to Photography for enabling us to represent the +remarkable slab from Greenfield, and its numerous objects, in a small +space, yet with perfect accuracy. This slab is four feet seven and +one-half inches in one direction, and four feet one inch transversely +to this; in thickness it measures about an inch. It is composed of +gray sandstone, in which the micaceous element is conspicuous, and +contains many interesting impressions on both surfaces. + +The most interesting surface is the inferior; and the objects are, of +course, presented in relief. They are, first, two Chelonian tracks; +second, four sets of bird-tracks; third, footsteps of an unknown +animal. The _Chelonian tracks_ are two in number: the longest measures +four feet ten inches; the shorter, two feet nine inches. Both of these +impressions are made apparently by the plastron of the turtle. They +are from four to eight inches in width, and composed of elevated +striae. These striae are formed by raised lines, pursuing a course +generally regular, but accompanied with some inflections: they are, as +the plate represents, very distinct. The shorter track appeared to me +to be crossed by another; but the photographic impression, though only +a few inches long, enabled me to ascertain that this appearance was +produced by bird-tracks above and below. + +The _bird-tracks_ are all tridactylous. The first set lies above and +to the right of the shorter turtle-track, and is composed of only two +steps, proceeding in the course of the plate downwards. The second set +of bird-tracks has five impressions, extending from the right superior +pointed angle of the slab across the small turtle-track to the larger, +in which it is lost. The third set of bird-tracks begins by an +impression larger than any other on the piece at the left extremity of +the longer turtle-track; and the remainder, three in number, +descending towards the right, are the least distinct of any. The +fourth set of bird-tracks begins below the longer turtle-track, and +ascends by four impressions, crossing the track till it meets the +first. + +The most curious track, consisting of six digitated impressions, still +remains. The first is seen on the left of the longer turtle-track, +near the largest bird-track; the second is on the track; the third is +above the track; the others cross the slab by fainter impressions. +Each of them is composed by two feet, and each foot contains four +toes, which are seen more distinctly in some impressions than in +others. The largest of these double tracks is about three inches in +diameter. Perhaps it would be useless to speculate upon what kind of +animal they were made by. There is a similarity between these and the +tracks of the Anomoepus Scambus, spoken of in the sixth group. In the +latter, however, the toes are five and three. Some experienced persons +think they are tracks of the mink, Mustela Lutreola, an animal common +at the present day in these parts. This has five toes; but it may be +in this as in some other digitigrades, that one of the toes in each +foot does not make an impression; or perhaps it is safer to believe, +till further investigation is made, that it was an animal of a +construction not now existing. + +The direction of these tracks presents a puzzle we are not able to +unravel; it exhibits the impressions of four toes, and we have +supposed it might possess five. In either of these cases, we have no +right to consider it a bird-track, but probably a reptile or a mammal. +Admitting this to be the fact, we are unable to account for the +direction of the steps, which is not alternate, as in the quadruped, +but in straight lines. In other words, this animal, supposed to have +four legs, gives us the impressions of two only, and both of these +placed together. + +When the tridactylous tracks are attentively considered, compared with +each other, and with the digitated tracks, they appear to exhibit the +character of the impressions of the feet of birds so very decidedly, +that it would require something more than a philosophic incredulity to +question their ornithic origin. + +The other side of this slab contains interesting impressions. In the +first place, this surface is covered with ripple-marks, each about two +inches broad, extending with various degrees of distinctness across +the slab, and having an interval of an inch. The width of the ridges +is greater than in any of the specimens we have seen. + +This surface is almost covered by rain-drops. It has also, among other +impressions, one which has been drawn by Mr. Silsbee, our +photographist, and represented by the figure below of its proper size. +This figure, nearly four and a half inches in length, is an exact +resemblance in form, but not in size, of the great Otozoum, as +depicted by President Hitchcock, and shown by the actual impression, +in our hands, of the great foot, twenty inches long, and of +proportionate breadth. The form of the heel, or posterior part of the +foot, is the same in the two figures; the toes are equal in both, viz. +four in number; the two internal toes correspond in their +articulations, and the two external are nearly alike, with a little +allowance for a different amount of adipose texture. Whether this was +the impression of an infant Otozoum, I pretend not to determine: the +drawing was taken by a gentleman who knew nothing of the Otozoum. +There are similar impressions, smaller than that last described, on +the same surface. + +The stone, though now very hard and intractable, having resisted all +the chemical agents we could employ, must have remained in a soft +state for some time; for the impressions of the foot shown below +penetrate to the opposite surface. + + [Illustration: Fossil foot impression] + +In this description we have not attempted to point out all the objects +worthy of interest on both sides of this curious slab. Every part +of it is full of interest, and presents a field for protracted +observations. The surface represented in the plate may, by the aid of +a magnifier, be studied without the presence of the stone itself; for +the photographic art displays the most minute objects without +alteration or omission. + + + + + * * * * * + + + Transcriber's Notes. + +With the exception of several presumed typographical error which have +been changed as noted below, the text presented is that shown in the +original printed version. The original text included Greek characters. +For this text version these letters have been replaced with +transliterations. Also, the 'AE' and 'ae' ligatures are included (for +examples, AEthyopus and striae); but the 'oe' ligatures (for example, +Anomoepus) are shown as 'oe' for readability as the ligature character +is not present in many fonts. + +Typographical Errors: + + "Alleghanies" => "Alleghenies" (Pg. 18) + "Mastodon Giganteus." => "Mastodon Giganteus," (Pg. 25) + +Emphasis Notation: + + _text_ - italicized + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Remarks on some fossil impressions in +the sandstone rocks of Connecticut River, by John Collins Warren + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOSSIL IMPRESSIONS--CONNECTICUT RIVER *** + +***** This file should be named 34056.txt or 34056.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/0/5/34056/ + +Produced by Tom Cosmas and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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