552 



THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD 



Fig. 467. Restoration of the great toothed diver of the Cretaceous, Hesperornis, 

 by Gleeson. (From Lucas' Animals of the Past; by permission of the publishers, 

 McClure, Phillips and Co.) 



had been abandoned, and the bird was adapted to swimming and 

 diving only. The jaws had teeth set in grooves like those of primi- 

 tive saurians, and in other respects 

 were like the jaws of snakes. As some 

 of these strange birds attained a length 

 of six feet, they were doubtless formid- 

 able enemies to the sea life on which 

 they chose to feed. They have been 

 found in Kansas, Montana, North 

 Dakota, New Jersey, and England, 

 and probably frequented epicontinental 

 seas somewhat widely. 



The second type Ichthyornis (Fig. 

 468) was scarcely larger than a pigeon, 

 and had great power of flight, as in- 

 dicated by the strong development of 

 the wings and keel. At the same time, 

 their legs and feet were small and 

 slender. They had teeth in sockets, stored by Marsh.) 



Fig. 468. Ichthyornis victor. 



