THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE FOSSIL BIRD 

 PALAEOCHENOIDES M IOC E AN US 



ALEXANDER WETMORE 

 U. S. Biological Survey, Washington, D.C. 



In a recent number of the Geological Magazine 1 Dr. R. W. Shu- 

 feldt described and figured the fossilized distal end of the right 

 femur of a bird from South Carolina, proposing for it the name 

 Palaeochenoides mioceanus. This Dr. Shufeldt considered as 

 representing a large anserine form. Through the courtesy of Dr. 

 O. P. Hay, I have had opportunity of comparing this type, and after 

 careful study am forced to disagree with Dr. Shufeldt as to the 

 affinities of the species represented. After careful comparison 

 with many specimens I am convinced that the fragment does not 

 come from an anserine bird, but that it represents a large stega- 

 nopod, related (though not closely) to our modern brown pelicans. 



When the specimen was first examined, the popliteal area of the 

 bone was obscured by matrix that covered and obliterated contours 

 and slight depressions. This was carefully removed, and these 

 characters made fully visible (Fig. i). Though at first glance there 

 are certain resemblances to the swans, these characters are found to 

 be superficial and to lose their value upon careful study. The 

 anseriform species available that show certain resemblances to Pa- 

 laeochenoides are the following: Olor buccinator, O. americanus , O . 

 cygnus, Branta canadensis, Chen caerulescens , and Dendrocygna autum- 

 nalis. A considerable number of other species have been examined, 

 but have been found to resemble the above closely or to be so differ- 

 ent as not to be pertinent in the present case. In the Steganopodes 

 the following have been utilized: Phaethon aether eus,Fregata magnifi- 

 cens, Sula leucogastra, S. bassana, S. senator, Pelecanus fuscus, 

 and P. onocrotalus. The cormorants and darters are highly 



• 1916, pp. 343-47 (PL XV). 



555 



