This volume of American Journal of Science contains a report delivered by Edward Hitchcock, entitled "Ichnolithology or Fossil Footmarks, with a description of the Coprolites of Birds, discovered recently in the Connecticut Valley". Hitchcock gave a history of this new branch of paleontology and he described footprints found in the Connecticut River Valley. More important to the priority dispute was that he elevated the actions of Moody and Dwight and downplayed those of Deane. Hitchcock's claim here was that although others such as Pliny Moody and Dr. Dwight had "found" footprints, he alone deserved the recognition as first discoverer because he was the first to study them scientifically.