26 



NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



we are introduced to a set of birds which might constitute a taxonomie 

 division known popularly as "giants," among which are the giant birds 

 of Madagascar and the giant bird of New Zealand. There is something 

 very impressive in the mere matter of size. These feathered giants 

 have been so recently exterminated that they are handed down in tra- 

 dition and fall within historic times, and may be considered sub-fossiL 



75 



Fig. 74 — Tooth of Hesperor- 



)ris re(i(ilis (Xf)- 

 Fig. 75 — Same, with vertical 



successor at base. 



7& 



Fig. 76— Tooth of Cretaceous 

 Mosasaur with vertical 

 successoSi"^ base. About 

 one-fourth natural size for 

 comparison with Fig. 75. 



Fig. 73 — Skeleton of Hesperornis reqalis. Restored by 

 Marsh (Xx^a).' 



77 78 



Fig. 77 — Twentieth dorsal 

 vertebra. Side view (Xj). 

 Fig. 78 — Same from in front, 



showing saddle-shaped 



articular faces. 



Fig. 79 — Side view of left lower jaw of Hesperornis regalis. Length 10 inches. 



Fig. 80 — Same, top view. Showing groove for teeth. 



