ON THE SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF HESPERORNIS. tit 
Colymbus, where the pre-acetabular part is even less in proportion. In short, 
except for the want of the union_between the ilium and ischium in the fossil species, 
these two very striking pelves are practically identical. 
THE Hinp- Lime. 
The bones of the hind-limb in Hesperornis are so closely similar to those of the 
Colymbo-Podicipidz that Marsx in describing them has throughout used Podiceps 
as the standard of comparison : and in no single point in connection with the hind- 
limb has Mars been able to cite the existence of even apparent Ratite affinities. 
It is, therefore, not necessary to recapitulate in detail the characters of the bones, 
further perhaps than to call attention to two more or less striking points. Firstly, 
the extreme shortness of the femur is a very Colymbine feature: that bone is in 
Fig. 13. Lert Femur or HEsPERORNIS. fig. 14. Lert Femur or CotyMsvs. 
1, anterior ; 2, posterior view. 
Colymbus and Hesperornis about one-quarter the length of the ilium; whereas in 
the Ratites, except in exceptional cases, such as Dinornis elephantopus, the two 
bones are nearly of equal length. Secondly, and of greater importance, the patella, 
a AELZZZZ-A_LDZZZIEZEZED —— 
Su — EL KEL 
Bae Lu LL LLLIDY Lz — 5 
Fig. 15. Lerr Trera or Hesperornis. 
