2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 64^ 



Colinus, species. 



Gallinula, species. 



Mi(y)''opalama hesternus, new species. 



Corvus^ species. 



Junco^ species. 



Fringillidae (indeterminate) . 

 A few bones were secured from a point one-half mile south of the 

 second quarry (mentioned in the preceding paragraph) at a distance 

 of 2^ miles south of Benson. A limited excavation here revealed 

 various mammalian bones (among them remains of a mastodon of 

 Pliocene age) , but yielded only one bird, a specimen nevertheless of 

 great interest. It is identified as follows : 



AgriochaHs^ species. 

 Following his preliminary examinations of the mammalian re- 

 mains with which these bird bones are associated Doctor Gidley now 

 considers these Benson beds as upper Pliocene, a supposition that 

 is not controverted by the avian fossils. In the four forms of bird& 

 described as new from these deposits are three species of aquatic or 

 littoral habit, a tree-duck, a small goose, and a sandpiper, not one of 

 which has been reported from the first interglacial deposits at Fossil 

 or Silver Lakes, Oregon, noted for their wealth of water fowl remains. 

 A fourth form, the ocellated turkey {Agriocharis^ species) in its 

 modern phase {Agriocharis oceUata) is restricted to a tropical or 

 subtropical climate, so that it may be supposed that its fossil repre- 

 sentative existed during a period marked by clement climatic condi- 

 tions. 



The make-up of the avifauna of these deposits is of some interest. 

 Water-birds outnumber those that frequent dry land to a consider- 

 able extent. The}' include a grebe, several ducks, a small goose, a 

 sandpiper, and a gallinule. Among other groups the gallinaceous 

 birds are represented by two quails and a peculiar turkey, the latter 

 not reported heretofore from the limits of the United States. A 

 pigeon, a small raven, a junco, and at least three additional finches 

 complete our tale of the bird life of this period. It is noteworthy 

 that the tree-duck, goose, and pigeon described are all smaller than 

 other known representatives of their respective genera. 



The drawings illustrating this report have been prepared by Miss 

 Ludwicka Wieser. 



Family COLYMBIDAE. 



COLTMBUS, species. 



The head of a coracoid unearthed two miles south of Benson comes 

 from a grebe of this group, probably from one near O. nigrioollis. 

 The bone differs in conformation from that of Podilymljus, but agrees 



