Fossil Birds in the Marsh Collection of Yale University 43 



was not based upon sufficient material to make a correct generic 

 diagnosis. The material in question consisted of a single osseous 

 claw or ungual phalanx of peculiar formation, as will be observed by 

 referring to the figure of it cited above. 



In the material here being considered, I find a number of these 

 claws, and in one or two instances associated with other bones of the 

 skeleton belonging to the same individual. 



These throw a very different light upon the subject, as is set forth 

 below, and a study of them thoroughly con\dnces me of the fact that 

 the extinct (fossil) Eagle I described a,s A qtiila antiqua now proves to 

 be a large Owl, and as an Owl it has no place in the genus Aquila. 



The osseous ungual phalanges of this Owl are so distinctive that 

 there can now be no question as to its having represented a very dis- 

 tinct genus of the Strigidce. Its congeners are now all extinct in this 

 country, and it is not possible, from the material at hand, to say what 

 genus of Owls in the existing avifauna is most nearly related to it. 

 Neither Nyclea nor Bubo possess such osseous talons, and surely none 

 of the existing Falconidoe have them, as I have previously pointed out. 



In removing the species from the genus Aquila, it becomes necessary 

 to create a new genus to contain it, and I here propose for it the name 

 of Minerva, so that hereafter 



Aquila antiqua Shuf. = Minerva antiqua gen. nov.^ 



established on the characters which are derived from the discovery of 

 additional material, as follows: 



Cat. No. 847 (PL XV, Fig. 151), Peabody Museum, Yale University. Henry's 

 Fork, Wyoming. Eocene (Bridger). O. C. Marsh, collector. 



Fossil claw or ungual joint of hallux of the extinct owl Minerva 

 antiqua, showing the dorso-basal process of this phalanx, produced 

 proximad, and its entire under side taking part in the articulation with 

 the phalanx of hallux. This is the distinctive character to which 

 attention was invited when I described ^^ Aquila antiqua." 



skeleton than it had ralline ones, several of which are plainly to be seen in the figure 

 of the type. Moreover, Irtie gallinaceous birds were by no means imcommon in 

 this country during Eocene time. I have since examined this slab. (See foot- 

 note, p. 41). 



1 Generic name = L. the goddess Minerva of Roman mythology. The bird of 

 Minerva was an owl. Sp. name = L. aniiquus, old, ancient. In other words, an 

 ancient bird of wisdom. 



