162 FOSSIL BIRDS. 



bird had fallen on its belly on the bed of gypsum which was 

 already formed. Previously to the deposition of sufficient 

 gypsum completely to envelope it, it had lost, either by the 

 movement of the water, or by the agency of voracious animals, 

 the principal part of the head, and all the left leg, which were no 

 where to be found in the neighbourhood. Part of the bones 

 remained in their place where the stone was cut, and another 

 part fell in shivers, and left nothing behind but an impression. 



The under part of the bill is very distinct in the im- 

 pression, the left branch remaining almost entire. There are 

 the remains of the two sides of the basis of the cranium, 

 which, like that of all birds, was cellulous. 



The vertebrae of the neck are very distinguishable as far as 

 nine. 



The clavicle on one side is very well preserved, and there 

 are some remains of that of the other. A small remnant of 

 the shoulder-blade is visible, but the greater portion of this 

 bone has disappeared. The clavicle, however, is so peculiarly 

 conformed in birds, that this bone is alone sufficient to identify 

 the fossil in question as belonging to that class. 



The sternum is very much crushed and disfigured. The 

 remnants or impressions of ribs are visible here and there, 

 some of which are covered, or rather interrupted by debris of 

 the sternum, and others bv the clavicles. 



The pelvis has left an impression not remarkably perfect, in 

 consequence of its being mixed with that of the coccyx, but 

 the two points formed by the ischia and the ossa pubis are 

 very distinct. 



All the parts of the two wings are very well preserved in this 

 ornitholite, and exhibit osteological characters eminently 

 classical. 



The humerus of one side is almost entire, the cubitus and 

 radius in the two wings have also lost but little, and even one 

 of the small osselets of the carpus is visible. 



The metacarpus, which in birds has a very peculiar form. 



