84 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. [Yol.VI, 



Description. — The preiliac vertebrae are distinct from each other and 

 have only moderately elongate centra. The diapophy ses are of moderate 

 length and less width, and are truncate at the extremity. Those of suc- 

 cessive vertebrae are connected by but few osseous ligamentous spicules. 

 The caudal vertebrae are short and wide, and have short diapophyses^ 

 except the first, which has a long narrow diapophysis. The last three- 

 are in profile, and do not display hypapophyses. The ploughshare bone 

 is an elongate triangle, considerably produced to its superior angle. The 

 basal cotylus for articulation with the centrum immediatelyinfront, is- 

 well excavated. 



The pelvis is short and rather wide posteriorly. The fossil presents a- 

 superior view of it, with both the pubic bones turning their external 

 faces upwards. The external borders of the anterior plates of the 

 ilia are broken away, but enough remains of their inner portion to show 

 their anterior extent. The postacetabular ridges diverge outwards and 

 terminate in a T)romiuent angulation of the posterior border which is 

 about equidistant between the vertebral border of the ilium and the ex- 

 terno-inferior border of the pubis. The posterior outline thus differs 

 from that seen in variou!^ genera of Scolojmcidcc, where the angle is much 

 nearer the vertebral border, and where a second angle is produced by a 

 notch at the point of junction of the ischium. The pelvis of Totanus is 

 however, much like that of the present species. External to the angular 

 projection described, the border is notched, and then turns posteriorly, 

 forming a gentle curve, which continues from the ischium to the slender 

 pubis. The pubis is long and very narrow, and extends well posterior 

 to the ischium. It is of uniform diameter, and is not expanded distally. 

 The ischiopubic foramen is long and narrow, about one-seventh as wide 

 as long. The obturator foramen is about one-third the length of the 

 ischiopubic, and is oval. A transverse line cutting the anterior border 

 of the acetabulum divides the pelvis between the posterior angular pro- 

 jection of the ilium (the true crest, fide, Gegenbaur) and the anterior 

 extremity, into two parts of equal length. 



The leg bones are quite slender, and are similar in proportions to those 

 of several species of Gharadrius and Totanus. They are more slender 

 than in various species of Scolopax, Strepsilas, Tringa, &c., and less so 

 than in Himantopus and Becurvirostra. The former is just half as long as 

 the tibia, and seen in profile is almost straight. The crest of the tibia 

 is very prominent, but is not produced proximally. The distal extremity 

 of the tibia and proximal part of the tarsometatarse are so damaged as 

 not to furnish satisfactory characters. 



There are five rectrices visible in the specimen. Those which are in 

 all probability median are the longest, while the external two are of 

 equal length. This gives the outline a rather short wedge shape as the 

 feathers lie closed. The expanded tail Avould be rounded with a slight 

 median angulation. The extremities of the feathers are rounded, and 



