326 Prof. J. Reiiihnrdt on the 



of birds " *. But there is, at any rate, one point with regard 

 to which it may be doubtful whether the relation between the 

 bird-fauna discovered in the caves and that now existing can 

 fairly be said to agree with what is known concerning the 

 corresponding mammalian fauna-. The most remarkable 

 characteristic of the extinct mammalian Avorld is, as is well 

 known, this, that it contained not only several entirely extinct 

 very large species of genera which are still in existence and 

 peculiar to America — for instance, large species of Hydro- 

 chmrus, Cercolabes, and Dasypus — but besides these a series of 

 most remarkable gigantic forms which certainly exhibit an 

 American character, but represent peculiar genera and families 

 that have disappeared from the modern fauna, such as Macr- 

 michenia, Toxodon, the gigantic Sloths, and the Glyptodons. 

 Nothing similar appears to have been observed with regard 

 to the remains of birds found in the caves ; at any rate 

 nothing approaching to it could probably be mentioned ex- 

 cept in the case of the very large Alectorid of which Lund 

 believed he had fouud remains ; and even if these have been 

 rightly interpreted by him, this one species would scarcely 

 afford a sufficient foundation for so important a conclusion 

 as he founded on it. So much the more occasion is there for 

 rendering an accurate account of the number and a description 

 of the bones referred to this bird, and for submitting them to 

 a renewed and careful examination. 



They are but very few in number, strictly speaking only two, 

 viz. : — the upper third or a little more of the right metatarse, 

 from which, however, the articular surface had been broken 

 off from above, and which, more especially on the posterior 

 face, was beset with incrustations ; and, secondly, a digital 

 phalanx which had lost the proximal articular surface, and 

 also exhibited some incrustations. According to Lund's own 

 Avords in his unpublished treatise, both these bones were found 

 in the side of the same cave, and bore all the marks of 

 belonging to one and the same individual ; both moreover were 

 figured, each from two sides, in the coloured drawings accom- 



* Overs, over d. Kgl. d. Vid. Selsk. Forliaiidlinger og- d. Medl. Arb. 

 1840-41, p. Ixiii. 



