INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR 1875. cciii 



thyornithes (with the genera Ichthyornis and Apatomis) and 

 OdontolccB, containing the genus Hesperomis. In comparing 

 the two genera, Ichthyornis and Hesperomis^ the author calls 

 attention to the remarkable combinations of characters in 

 each genus. The former has teeth in distinct sockets, with 

 biconcave vertebrae ; while the latter has teeth in grooves, 

 and yet has vertebrae similar to those of modern birds. They 

 all occurred in the upper cretaceous beds of New Jersey and 

 Kansas. The remains preserved of Hesperomis regalis show 

 that this species was larger than any known aquatic bird, 

 the length from the apex of the bill to the end of the toes 

 being between five and six feet. The rudimentary wings 

 prove that flight was impossible, while the powerful swim- 

 ming legs and feet were peculiarly adapted to rapid motion 

 through the water. The tail appears to have been much 

 expanded horizontally, as in the beaver, and doubtless was 

 an efficient aid in diving, perhaps compensating in part for 

 want of wings, which the penguins use with so much effect 

 in swimming under water. That Hesperomis was carnivo- 

 rous is clearly proved by its teeth, and its food was probably 

 fishes. 



The coloring matter of the shell of the eg^gjs of birds has 

 been studied by Mr. Sorby with the solar spectroscope. He 

 finds that their different tints are due to a variable mixture 

 of seven well-marked coloring matters. Hitherto the greater 

 part of these had not been found elsewhere. The principal 

 red coloring matter was connected with the haemoglobin of 

 blood, and the two blue coloring matters were probably re- 

 lated to bile pigments ; but in both cases it was only a chem- 

 ical and physical relationship, and the individual substances 

 were quite distinct, and it seemed as though they were spe- 

 cial secretions. There appears to be no simple connec- 

 tion between the production of these various egg-pigments 

 and the general organization of the birds, unless it were in 

 the case of the Tinamous, in the shells of the eggs of many 

 species of which occurs an orange-red substance not met 

 w T ith in any other eggs, unless it were in those of some spe- 

 cies of cassowary. 



A fossil bird belonging to the Vultures has been discov- 

 ered by Professor Cope, and named Vultur umbrosus. It 

 was about as large as the "king vulture" {Cathartes papa) 



