TWO NEW FOSSIL HAWKS FROM NEBRASKA — WETMORE 77 



delicate form of the trochlea than from measurements and is readily 

 apparent on comparison of specimens. 



Ted Galusha, from whom the type of Falco ramenta was obtained, 

 informs me that his ''''Merychippus quarry", where the specimen was 

 found, is characterized by remains of Merychippus primus^ Hypo- 

 hippus, Merycodm, and Mylogaulns, among other mammals. He 

 considers it probably equivalent to the Sheep Creek beds. The exact 

 level in the Miocene of this deposit remains to be definitely estab- 

 lished, but it seems probable that it is located in the middle or lower 

 upper Miocene. 



Other pigmy species related to forms still living have been found 

 in the same general period of geologic time. These include Ortalis 

 tantala, a chachalaca less than half the size of the modern species 

 in this group; Paractiornis perpv^nllus^ an oystercatcher with the 

 stature of a sanderling; and Gonuropsis fratercula^ which resembles 

 the Carolina paroquet but is only three-fourths as large. It Avould 

 appear that the latter half of Tertiary time was highly favorable to 

 diversity of form among birds, so that there were developed many 

 size types that with the incidence of more rigorous conditions in 

 Pleistocene and Recent times became extinct. 



STATUS OF FALCO FALCONELLUS SHUFELDT 



In considering the affinities of Falco ramenta^ I have had the 

 privilege of examining the type material of F. falconellus Shufeldt 

 through the kindness of Dr. Richard S. Lull and Dr. Malcolm R. 

 Thorpe. This species, described as Falco falconella ^ was named ac- 

 cording to Shufeldt from "five (5) fossil bones or fragments of 

 bones which, in life, evidently belonged to either a small Owl or a 

 small Falcon or Hawk." The specimens come from the Bridger 

 Eocene of Wyoming. The type material, all of which is fragmentary, 

 includes the following: 



(1) A bit of an articular surface or process that is not avian; 

 without comparing it definitely I consider it mammalian. 



(2) A phalanx from the foot of some small bird. 



(3) A much compressed unguis from the foot of a larger bird 

 than no. 2. 



(4) Head of the left coracoid of a small bird. 



(5) Distal end of the left humerus of a small bird. 



After prolonged and careful examination and many comparisons 

 with modern birds, I am forced to the conclusion that F. falconellus 

 cannot be identified. The material includes representation from at 

 least three orders of birds. The fragmentary humerus is the only 



« Trans. Connecticut Acad. Arts and ScL, vol. 19, Feb. 1915, p. 40, pi. 15, figs. 139-143. 



