ART. XIX.-DESCRIPTION OF A FOSSIL PASSERINE BIRD FROM 

 THE INSECT-BEARING SHALES OF COLORADO. 



By J. A. Allen. 



Plate I. 



The species described iii the present paper is based on some beauti- 

 fully preserved remains from the insect-bearing shales of Florissant, 

 Colorado. They 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 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, bat 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 {Ampelis 

 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 agreement is better 

 with the short-legged Pewees (genus Contoims). These features indi- 

 cate arboreal habits and well-developed powers of flight. The absence 

 of the bill renders it impossible to assign the species to any particular 

 family, but the fossil on the whole gives the impression of Friiigilline 

 affinities. 



Pal^ospiza BELLA, geii. et sp. nov. 



Wings rather long, pointed ; tail (apparently*) about two-thirds the 

 length of the wing, rounded or graduated, the outer feathers (as pre- 

 served) being much shorter than the inner. One side shows distinctly 

 six rectrices. Tarsus short, its length a little less than that of the mid- 

 dle toe. Lateral toes subequal, scarcely shorter than the middle one. 

 Hind toe about two-thirds as long as the middle toe. Feet and toes 

 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 Tanagridce. 



* The character of the tail must be given with reeervation, since it is not quite cer- 

 tain that the whole of the tail, or that the exact form of the terminal iiortion, is shown, 



especially as the preserved impression is somewhat uusymmetrical. 



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