teryx, a fossil bird of Germany witli which all ornithologists are familial'. 

 The two remaining orders are separated by Marsh upon the character of 

 the bill, the Odontolcae having teeth set in grooves and the Odontotormae 

 in sockets. The former order is represented by Hesperornis and the 

 latter by Ichthyornis, both of which were wading birds. The latter was 

 a bird probably twice the size of a pigeon, the former larger, often five or 

 si.\ feet in length. 



As has been said these birds occur in the same formation that is rep- 

 resented by tne Niobrara group at Sioux City. They therefore lived at 

 the time this deposit was formed. However as this deposit is of chalk 

 and was therefore a deep sea deposit, the remains, if found at all in Iowa, 

 would be found furher eastward at or near the shoreline of the Creta- 

 ceous sea that covered the entire ■•plains" region: The conditions foi' 

 the preservation of organic forms along this shoreline were doubtless the 

 same as those in Kansas and it is reasonable to suppose that birds occur- 

 ing in such profusion and variety of species in the latter place would also 

 be found as far north as tlie northern boundary of Iowa. Where this 

 eastern shoreline is, or was, is not yet known. It may in time be dis- 

 covered, or perhaps erosive agencies acting previously to the glaciafion of 

 this region have removed all shoreline deposits of that time. 



Again in Vol. X. of the Trans. Kansas Academy of Sciences, Prof. F. H 

 Snow describes a bird track discovered in the Dakctn group of Ellsworth 

 county. Kansas. It will be noted that this is the same formation that 

 occurs as the lower member of tlie outcrop at Sioux City. This track, 

 according to Prof. Snow, was made by a bird having the elevated hind 

 toe merely touching the ground, a character that at present is found in 

 the Snipes and Terns. 



The entire length of the track is two inches and much resembles the 

 Ichthyornis victor of Marsh. Prof. Snow therefore concludes that the bird 

 was probably a carnivorous bird, probably twice the size of a pigeon and 

 with habits similar to those of the Terns of the present day. The prin-' 

 cipal thing of interest however, is that this track occurs in the same 

 groiip (Dakota) that is found in most abundance along the Big Sioux 

 river near Sioux City. We have every reason to believe then that sooner 

 or later Avian remains will be found in the formation, as likely to be 

 found near Sioux City as anywhere in the state. 



As tlu^ Cretaceous formations in Iowa furnish immense amounts of gyp- 

 sum and potter's clay, it is likely that tlieir economic value will cause 

 them to be more fully studied by Geologists. With this study undertaken 

 by such experts as Calvin, Keyes, Beyer, Bain and others now on the 

 State Geological Survey, the Ornithologists may expect tiiis area of north- 

 western Iowa to produce some Avian curiosity which, if not a valuable 

 discovery for Science, will at least furnish another of nature's marvelous 

 works for Iowa workers to boast of. 



DiscrssioNs. 



Dr. Abbott, of Manchester, a venerable and intelligent gentle- 

 man who is noted for the attention he has given Geologv and who took 



