312 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



and his emjoloyes in the West during the past ten years. 

 We have ah-eady referred to his discovery of a new form of 

 pterodactyl, characterized by the entire absence of teeth, and 

 their probable replacement by a horny sheath like that of the 

 bill of modern birds. 



He now announces two additional fossil birds possessing 

 teeth implanted in sockets. One is a new species of the first 

 division, Hesperornis^ and the other forms the type of a new 

 genus, Xe5^o?v^^s (X. crassipes)^\XiQ remains of which indicate 

 a large swimming bird, fully six feet in length from the bill 

 to the end of the toes. 4 Z>, Jiuie^ 1876. 



ADDITIOISr TO NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY PYRRHOPHCENA 



RIEFFERI. 



A few years ago the only species of humming-bird known 

 with certainty to occur within the limits of the United States 

 were the ruby-crowned, of Eastern North America, and the 

 rufous or Nootkan hummer, of the Pacific coast. Since then 

 quite a number of additions have been made by Mr. Xantus, 

 Captain Feilner, Dr. Heerman, Mr. Henshaw, and others, a 

 number of these being species occurring in Mexico, and de- 

 tected across the United States border. The most recent 

 addition of the kind is in the discovery by Dr. Merrill, of the 

 United States army, in Texas, oi Pyrrhophoena riefferi^ taken 

 not far from Brownsville. 



There are about thirty species of humming-birds known to 

 occur on the table-lands of Mexico, nearly all of which will 

 be found to belonc: to the fauna of the United States. 



THE HABITS OF BIRDS. 



Ornithology has advanced greatly in this country during 

 the past few years, and one of its longest strides has been in 

 the direction of a knowledge of the migrations of birds, and 

 of the causes which brinsr about these seasonal and united 

 movements. But to ascertain what influences act with most 

 force much more information is necessary, collected over 

 wide areas and throuoh successive seasons. The Forest and 

 Stream suggests a series of points upon which observa- 

 tions, to be published, are especially useful and desirable. 

 The queries are expected to bring replies that shall give the 

 comparative abundance of birds in the observer's region, the 



