32 R. W. Shujeldt 



compared with the corresponding ones in the same bone in Fulica, 

 only this specimen indicates a species about one-third smaller than 

 Fulica americana, and was most likely either a true species of Fulica, 

 or the representative of a genus having many osteological characters 

 in common with Fulica and Gallinula, or even, perhaps, some Rallus 

 in it. 



So far as this fragment indicates, it would be a reasonable thing to 

 refer the species to which it belonged to the genus Fulica, thus remov- 

 ing it from the Crane-Snipe group to one where it would at least be 

 associated with its own kind. 



I would suggest that it be called Fulica venustus. 

 Cat. No. 1027 consists of the distal part of the shaft of the left 

 tibio-tarsus of a bird, which agrees in all particulars with Aletornis 

 venustus of Marsh. The present specimen has but a little more of 

 the shaft preserved, otherwise it is absolutely identical with the speci- 

 men shown in Plate VI, Figure 41, of the present article. The bones 

 are both from left pelvic limbs, and are of the same size exactly; in 

 other words, they are from the same species — ^a Fulica, smaller than 

 the existing Fulica americana. 



As a matter of fact, this polymorphic genus Aletornis should have 

 the forms now in it redistributed to the groups wherein they either 

 surely, or at least more likely, belong. If this be done, the redis- 

 tribution would result in the following changes, to wit : 

 Aletornis bellus = A limicoline species. 

 Aletornis gracilis = A limicoline species. 

 Aletornis nobilis = Grus nobilis. 

 Aletornis per nix is indeterminable. 

 Aletornis venustus = Fulica venustus. 

 If a more radical change were desirable, and Marsh's descriptions, 

 as far as they go, and are correct, were used, the list would stand thus: 

 Aletornis bellus = Tringa bellus. 

 Aletornis gracilis = Philohela gracilis. 

 Aletornis nobilis = Grus nobilis. 

 Aletornis venustus = Fulica venustus. 

 and Aletornis pernix set aside awaiting additional material. 



