754 THE AMYZON BEDS. 



and the latter about half way from its base to that of the caudal fin. The 

 dorsal fin, laid backwards, reaches the line of the base of the first anal ray. 

 The first dorsal ray is a little nearer the end of the muzzle than the origin 

 of the caudal fin. The muzzle is very obtuse, and if the specimen be not 

 distorted, not longer than the diameter of the orbit. The gape extends at 

 least to the posterior line of the orbit. The suborbital region is deep poste- 

 riorly. 



In its present somewhat distorted condition the specimen measures in — 



M. 



Total length 0.059 



Head 016 



Vertebraj 029 



Caudal fin 0142 



Length dorsal spine 008 



Length anal 008 



Length of hair-like fringes 0005 



The coracoid is not wide ; the postclavicle has a proximal conchoidal 

 expansion, and a long slender shaft extending to the anterior extremity of 

 the femora. Caudal fin furcate. Interneural spines wanting anterior to 

 dorsal fin ; those of the anterior rays very strong. Interhsemals of the an- 

 terior anal rays similarly strong. Caudal fin embracing one vertebra. 



From the coal shales north of Osino, Nevada ; obtained by the writer. 



AVES. 



Two species of birds have been obtained from the Amyzon shales, which 

 are represented by very few specimens. The best preserved specimen 

 found up to the present time is thought by the able zoologist, J. A. Allen, 

 to be a passerine bird of the family Fringillidce, and he accordingly names it 

 Palceospua hella* The second species was described by the writer as a 

 ])lover, under the name of Charadrim sheppardianus. 



The specimen includes three vertebrae anterior to the pelvis ; the pelvis, 

 with the vertebrae which it incloses, and the caudal vertebrae; both femora; 

 the tibia and part of the tarsometatarse of the right leg, with the greater 

 part of the left tibia. One-half of the tail is preserved, the feathers lying 

 in almost undisturbed relation. There are also various light and downy 



•BuUetin U. S. Geol. Surv. Terrs., IV, 1878, p. 443, PI. 1. 



