65 



metatarse is perhaps the most characteristic part of the skeleton of a 

 bird." Prof. Cope finds that this extinct species of bird, which used to 

 inhabit our western coast in Tertiary times, and to which he has given 

 the generic designation of Cyphornis, bears greater resemblance to the 

 steganopodes or pelicans, than to any other family. " The anterior 

 aspect of the bone," Cope says, (loc. cit. p. 451), " is almost exactly like 

 that of Pelecanus, but the posterior aspect resembles that of none of the 

 order in the absence of the tendinous groove." When compared with 

 cretaceous birds, Prof. Cope finds but "one point of resemblance " and 

 that with the extinct form Hesperornis, viz : in " the ridge-like elevation 

 of the anterior part of the external tibial facet, which is in both genera 

 connected with the intercondylar tuberosity." The affinities of this 

 bird, Prof. Cope holds, "are more clearly with the Steganopodes,combined 

 with affinities to more primitive birds, and having a simple hypotarsal 

 structure." Chyphornis magnus, Cope, is the name ascribed to this 

 extinct bird, which in Tertiary times at a period probably intermediate 

 between the Eocene and Oligocene frequented the shores of Vancouver 

 Island. 



" As regards its habits, it may be said that the pneumatic character 

 of its foot bone renders it improbable that it depended on this member 

 for habitual locomotion on land. In all the birds of terrestial habit 

 which I have examined," he continues, " and of which I can give infor- 

 mation the tarsometatarse is either filled with cancellous tissue, dense or 

 open, or the walls of the shaft are thick as in the Emu. The presumed 

 affinity with the Steganopodes indicates natatory habits and probable 

 capacity for flight. Should this power have been developed in CypJiornis 

 magnus, it will have been much the largest bird of flight thus far 

 known." 



On plate XX, which accompanies the text of this fascicle, Prof. 

 Cope figures four aspects of this bone and in the latter expresses the 

 hope that additional material will be forthcoming from which to make 

 more detailed and more perfect descriptions of this extinct bird. 



H. M. Ami. 



