55(5 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxvi. 



THE POSITION OF DIATRYMA. 



Diafrynin glgantea, from the Eocene of New Mexico, was yjlaced 

 with the struthious birds by Professor Cope, mainly, it would appear, 

 on account of its size, since he points out some differences between 

 the tarsus and that of the ostrich and emeu, and notes resemblances 

 between the distal articulations and those of Gastornis. At the time 

 Diatryma was described the great South American Stereornithes had 

 not l)een discovered or Professor Cope would doubtless have instituted 

 comparisons between them and Diatr^'ma. 



Unfortunately, the type and only specimen of Diatryma is a frag- 

 mentary tarsus, while the only material at hand representing the 

 Stereornithes is an indifferent cast of Brontornis. Still there are suf- 

 ficient resemblances between the two to warrant the suggestion that if 

 material comes to light it will be found that the affinities of Diatryma 

 are with the Stereornithes and not with the Droniffiognatha?. 



There is nothing more improbable in the North American origin of 

 the Stereornithes than in the similar origin of the large edentates and 

 llamas, both of which are subscribed to. 



For the present there seems to be no evidence of the occurrence of 

 any large dromasognathous bird in North America, and the presence 

 of the tinamous may be regarded as the northward extension of a 

 southern fauna. 



