822 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS OF FOSSIL BIRDS. 



A. — Tertiary Birds. 



CABINAI^ (p. 238). 



PASSERES (p. 238; . 



1. PALiEOSPIZA BELLA. 



Vulatjsinzn hella, Allen, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., iv., no. 2, May 3, 1878, pp. 443- 

 445, pi. i, figg. 1, 2. — Am. Journ. Sci.. xv, May, 1878, p. 381. — Amor. Nat., xv, Mar., 

 1881, p. 253." ' 



UaseJ up(jn some beautifully preserved remains, from the insect-bearing shales of Floris- 

 sant, Colorado, now deposited iu the Museum of the Boston Society of Natui-al History. They 

 consist of the greater part of the skeleton, including all the bones of the wings and legs ex- 

 cepting the femurs, but unfortunately lacking the biU. The impression of the feathers of the 

 wings and tail are remarkably distinct, showing not only the general shape of these parts, but 

 the shafts and barbs of the feathers themselves. The bones are all in situ, " and indicate be- 

 yond question a high ornithic type, probably referable to the oscine division of the Faaseres. 

 The lack of tlie bill reuders it impossible to assign the sjjecies to any pai'ticular family, but the 

 fossil on the whole gives the impression of Fringilline affinities." The approximate length of 

 the specimen is seven inches. 



PICARI^ (p. 444). 



2. UINTORNIS LITCARIS. 



Uintoniis hicaris, MAnsH, Am. Jouru. Sci., iv, Oct., 1872, p. 259. — CoUES, Key, 1872, 



p. -u:. 



This bird was about as large as a robin, and apparently related to the woodpeckers. The 

 only Icnown remains are from the Lower Tertiary formation of Wyoming Territory. They are 

 preserved in the j\Iuscum of Yale College. 



RAPTORE3 (p. 496). 



3. AQUILA DANANA. 



Aquila danana, Marsh, Am. J(jurn. Sci., ii, Aug., 1871, p. 125. — Coues, Key, 1872, 

 p. 347. 



This species was nearly as large as the golden eagle {A. chrysaetus) . The only known 

 remains were found in tlie Pliocene of Nebraska, and are preserved in the Yale Museum. 



4. BUBO LEPTOSTEUS. 



Bubo leptosteus, Marsh, Am. Journ. Sci., ii, Aug., 1871, p. 126. — Coues, Key, 1872, 

 p. 347. 



A species about two-thirds as large as the great horned owl (B. virginianus) . The re- 

 mains were discovered in the Lower Tertiary beds of Wyoming, and are now in the Yale 

 Museum. 



5. PAL^^SOBORUS UMBROSXJS. 



Cathartes mnhrosus, Cope, Proc. Phila. Acad., xxvi, 1871, p- 151. — Ann. Eep. Chief of 

 Engrs. U. S. A., 1874, p. f.06. 



Yultnr iimhrosns. Cope, Proc. Phila. Acad., xxvii, 1875, p. 271. — Ann. Eep. Chief of 

 Engrs. U. S. A., 1875, p. 993. —Rep. Surv. W. 100th Merid., iv, pt. ii, p. 2'^7, pi. Ixvii, figg. 

 10-18, pi. Ixviii, figg. 1-19. 



From the Pliocene of New Mexico; remains found in the sands north of Pojuaque, repre- 

 senting a rapacious bird in size intermediate between the golden eagle and the turkey vulture; 



