NO. 20 



PLIOCENE BIRD REMAINS WETMORK 



the same locality as the specimen identified as Phalacrocorax idahcnsis. 

 about 3 miles south of the fossil horse quarry, 200 feet above the 

 present level of Snake River, and the same distance below the fossil 

 horse horizon. The specimen, like various others with which it was 

 found, has a slightly porous surface but is well preserved. 



The association of this specimen with the fragmentary ulna identi- 

 fied as Phalacrocorax idahensis immediately suggested that it might be 

 that species. The relative proportions, however, are such as to indicate 

 with certainty that this metatarsus comes from a much smaller l)ird. 



Pi(;s 3-4.— Metatarsus of Phalacrocorax ^ anritus 

 from a Pliocene specimen, natural size. 



SO small that it must be considered as belonging to an entirely different 



species. r j u 



On careful comparison this metatarsus (figs. 3-4) is found to be 

 identical with that of the existing double-crested cormorant. It is 

 somewhat more slender than many individuals but is equalled m this 

 respect by some specimens of the modern bird. Its contours are so 

 exactly those of the existing species that there can be found no basis 

 whatever for separating it as a distinct form. 



While it is commonly recognized that numerous fossils mdistm- 

 guishable from living species and therefore identified as representing 

 modern birds occur in Pleistocene deposits, it. may at first glance 

 seem dubious or even impossible to carry this same procedure back 

 into the Pliocene. The writer has in recent years expressed the belie t 



