BIKDS. 



309 



Professor Hitchcock refers to birds, the fossil foot-marks 

 discovered in the new red-sandstone of Massachussets. The 

 imprints succeed each other regularly, and are of gigantic 

 dimensions, being fifteen inches long, and ten inches broad,, 

 and from four to five feet apart, indicating the immense 

 stride of the animal. No bones of birds have been found 

 in these imprinted strata, and it is yet doubtful whether 

 they belonged to birds or to some other unknown animal. 



1st Order. RAPTORES (Birds of prey, fig. 210). To this 

 group is referred the extinct genus Lithornis, found in the 

 eocene stage of Sheppey. Fossil species of Halicetus, (fig. 

 210), J3uteo, and Stride are found at Montmartre. Species 

 of Catartfjgsjm the sub-apennine stage of Auvergne, and 

 = of Fw7&and Aquila in diluvium. 



2nd Order. INCE&SQEE&. (or Perchers, fig. 211.). To this 

 order belongs the eSinct genus Protornis, from the schists 

 of Glarus. We know extinct species of the existing genera, 

 Turdus (fig. 211), Fringilla, and Corvus, from the falunian 

 stage of Sansan; and the remains of Motacilla, Andbates, 

 Hirundo, and Caprimulgus are found in the diluvium of 

 caverns. 



210. Halisotus leucoecpkilus. 



