AET. 5. FOSSIL BIRDS FROM ARIZONA WETMORE, 11 



that of Oreortyx^ but has characters that seem to ally it more closely 

 with CoUnus. It is possible that it belongs in one of the genera at 

 present of more southern range, or it may come from a genus now 

 extinct. In either case, it is a representative of a group not known 

 in our modern fauna north of the Mexican border. 



Family RALLIDAE. 



GALLINULA, species. 



The distal ends of two tibiae secured in the collecting locality 2 

 miles south of Benson average a little large, but otherwise agree 

 fairly well Avith material of the common gallinule {Gallinula cliloro- 

 pus) at hand. 



Distinctions between the lower end of the tibia in Fulica and Galli- 

 nula are slight, and in a large series the characters available inoscu- 

 late, so that there is no hard and fast line betw'een the two genera. 

 Recourse must be had to the sum of all in deciding on the identity 

 of these intermediate individuals. In general, in Fulica the internal 

 condyle is heavier, the articular surface on the posterior face of the 

 bone broader in proportion to its length, the intercondylar sulcus 

 broader, and the indentation near the center of the raised margin 

 of the internal tubercle smoother, less abrupt than in Gallinula. 

 Fulica^ in addition, may be larger, though large gallinules may ex- 

 ceed small coots in size. 



Family SCOLOPACIDAE. 



MICROPALAMA HESTERNUS, new species. 



Characters. — Head of humerus similar to that of Micropalama hi- 

 7nantopus (Bonaparte) but with caput humeri smaller, less rounded, 

 more pointed at tip, on under surface forming a more oblique angle 

 with shaft; lower end of coraco-humeral groove straight, not curv- 

 ing distally, so that end of groove comes nearer to tuberculum in- 

 ferior. 



Description.— Type., Cat. No. 10550, U.S.N.M., head of right 

 liumerus (figs. 6 and 7), collected by J. W. Gidley, April, 1921, 

 in quarry 2 miles south of Benson, Arizona. Upper Pliocene. 



Crista superior placed at nearly a right angle to lateral diameter 

 of bone, triangular in lateral outline, with proximal margin indented 

 below highest point, then swelling slightly before joining base of 

 caput humeri; point located just above lower, distal margin of in- 

 ternal crest on opposite side of bone, inclined slightly from per- 

 pendicular toward shaft; depression marking attachment for pec- 

 toralis major extending to center of shaft; caput humeri rounded, 

 elevated and narrowed toward highest point; coraco-humeral 



