Ancestors 



3 



bones of these birds were discovered by Professor Marsh 

 imbedded in the rocks of western Kansas, and Ihev are 

 now preserved in the museum of Yale Uni\'ersitA'. Pro- 

 fessor Marsh tells us that Hesperornis, the Bird of the 



e: 



■ jt/i J /■y-M-'-'^^-"-^''^ — ' — 



H-iui^^ 



Fig. 1. — Restored skeleton of Irhthyornis (after Marsh). 1/2 natural size. 



West, "was a tv^oical aquatic ])ird, and in hal)it was 

 doubtless ver^^ similar to the loon, although, flight l)eing 

 impossible, its life was probably j^iassed entirely uj^on 

 the water, except when visiting the shore for the pur]X)se 

 of Ijreedins:. The nearest land at (hat time was the sue- 



