FOSSIL BIRDS. 161 



As these quarries had furnished such a number of sepa- 

 rate bones, obviously appertaining to the class ** Aves," it 

 was natural to expect that some skeletons, in a state of greater 

 or less completeness, and belonging to the smaller species, 

 might be found there also. This accordingly was the fact. 

 One, in the possession of a M. EUuin, the Baron gives a 

 drawing of, executed by himself. This, though one of the 

 worst preserved, is still perfectly recognizable as the relics of a 

 bird. Though no bone is entire, and the forms of the articu- 

 lations are lost, yet the position and proportions of the bones 

 are sufficiently visible to enable us to recognize the bill, 

 the head, the neck, the body, the two wings, the two thighs, 

 and a part of the two legs of a bird. 



This body appears to have been crushed by the superin- 

 cumbent strata, and entirely flattened. It has left no impres- 

 sion but a brown lamina, the thickness of which can be scarcely 

 appreciated. Neither the bones of the head, the vertebrae, the 

 ribs, nor the sternum, are distinguishable. Some vestiges alone 

 of the pelvis are visible. There is not the slightest impression 

 of the plumage. 



The one found by M. Darcet was in a still more imperfect 

 state; and, as we have already seen, occasioned considerable 

 doubt and discussion. Still, however, one wing is almost com- 

 pletely characterized ; and the fore-arm, the metacarpus, and 

 commencement of the great toe, are distinctly visible. The 

 other wing and the bill are also sufficiently traceable, but 

 what remains of the feet and of the bones of the body has lost 

 every description of character. 



Three skeletons obtained by the Baron were in a state of 

 preservation far superior to that of the two last mentioned. 



The first is an almost entire skeleton of a bird, flattened in 

 the same manner as are all the skeletons of small animals 

 found in the gypsum. This one, when the stone was cut 

 which contained it, was divided into halves, each of which 

 remained adherent to the piece of stone on its own side. The 



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