Abstract

Edward Hitchcock's 113-line poetic description of the animals believed responsible for the large, three-toed Lower Jurassic Eubrontes giganteus fossil footprints was obscurely published in 1836. Due to the literary, rather than scientific, nature of the journal (The Knickerbocker) and Hitchcock's incomplete bibliographic reference to its source, the poem has been completely overlooked by today's geological historians. It offers a unique (and ironic) glimpse of the early sciences of geology and paleontology in the era just before Agassiz's glacial hypothesis was introduced. The work is still laced with many lingering notions about Diluvial processes and a persistent belief in the Earth's degenerate, ruined condition. This remarkable poem is offered for republication here (with critical comments).

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.