Ancestors o 



bones of these birds were discovered by Professor Marsh 

 imbedded in the rocks of western Kansas, and they are 

 now preserved in the museum of Yale University. Pro- 

 fessor Marsh tells us that Hesperornis, the Bird of the 



Fig. 1. — Restored skeleton of Ichthyornis (after Marsh). 1/2 natural size. 



West, "was a tv^ical aquatic bird, and in habit was 

 doubtless very similar to the loon, although, flight being 

 impossible, its life was probably passed entirely upon 

 the water, except when visiting the shore for the purpose 

 of breeding. The nearest land at that time was the sue- 



