204 



NATURE 



\yu7ie 20, 1878 



A FOSSIL SPARROW-LIKE BIRD 



WE recently referred to a new genus and species of 

 Passerine bird, described by Mr. J. A. Allen from a 

 specimen found preserved in the insect-bearing shales of 



Florissant, Colorado. We give an illustration of these re- 

 mains, which consist of the greater part of a skeleton, 

 embracing all of the bones of the anterior and posterior 

 extremities (excepting the femora). Unfortunately, the bill 

 and the anterior portion of the head are wanting,but the 



Fig. 



outlines of the remainder of the head and of the neck are 

 distinctly traceable. The bones are all in situ, and indicate 

 beyond question a high ornithic type, probably referable 

 to the Oscine division of the Passeres. The specimen 

 bears also remarkably distinct impressions of the wings 

 and tail, indicating not only the general form of these 

 parts, but even the shafts and barbs of the feathers. 



In size and in general proportions the present species 

 differs little from the Scarlet Tanager {Pyranga rubra) 

 or the Cedar-bird (/iw/^/zi- cedrorum). The bones of 

 the wings, as well as the wings themselves, indicate a 

 similar alar development, but the tarsi and feet are rather 

 smaller and weaker ; and hence in this point the agree- 

 ment is better with the short-legged Pewees (genus 

 Contopus). These features indicate arboreal habits and 

 well-developed powers of flight. The absence of the bill 

 renders it impossible to assign the species to any par- 

 ticular family, but the fossil on the whole gives the im- 

 pression of Fringilline affinities. 



It is called PalcBOspiza bella. Its wings are rather 

 long and pointed; the tail is (apparently i) about two- 

 thirds the length of the wing, rounded or graduated, the 

 outer feathers (as preserved) being much shorter than the 

 inner. The feet and toes it will be seen are strictly those 

 of a perching bird, and the proportionate length of the 

 bones of the fore and hind limbs is the same as in 

 ordinary arboreal Passeres, especially as represented by 

 the TanagridcB. 



The most remarkable feature of the specimen is the 

 definiteness of the feather impressions. Both the shafts 

 and the barbs are shown with great distinctness in the 

 rectrices, and the tips of the primaries of one wing are 

 also sharply defined, overlying the edge of the partly- 

 expanded tail. The tip of the opposite wing can also be 

 seen beneath the tail. The feet are so beautifully pre- 

 served that even the claws are perfectly distinct (Fig. i). 



' The character of the tail must be given with reservation, since it is 

 not quite certain that the whole of the tail, or that the exact form of the 

 termmal portion, is shown, especially as the preserved impression is some- 

 what unsymmetrical. 



Another very imperfect specimen from the same locality, 

 and probably representing the same species, consists of 

 the tip of the tail and about the apical third of a half- 



FlG. 2. 



expanded wirtg (Fig. 2). In this example the tail is also 

 pointed and graduated. 



The larger specimen, that first described, is divided into 



