344 0. C. Marsh — Gigantic Bird from New Jersey. 



Art. L. — A Gigantic Bird from the Eocene of New Jersey • 

 by O. C. Marsh. 



A VERY large extinct bird, about the size of an Ostrich, 

 and apparently allied to that group, is indicated by a few 

 remains now deposited in the Yale Museum. These fossils 

 are in good preservation, and were obtained by the writer 

 several years since in the upper marl beds, of Eocene age, 

 near Squankum, N". J. The most characteristic specimen, a 

 first phalange of the third digit of the right foot, is represented 

 half natural size in the accompanying figures. 



^'illinium! 11 



Phalange of Baromis regens, Marsh ; half natural size, a, front view ; 

 b, side view ; c, top view ; d, bottom view. 



In comparing this specimen with the corresponding bone of 

 the existing Ostrich, the shaft is found to be more slender, less 

 constricted, and straight in front, rather than concave. The 

 upper end, also, is more rounded in outline. The lower end 

 has a distinct groove, dividing the articular surface into nearly 

 equal parts. This groove is not seen in the recent Ostrich, but is 

 present in Dinornis. It indicates a ridge on the opposing 

 face of the second phalange, as in the feet of many living birds. 



These characters, well shown in the above figures, appear 

 distinctive, and indicate, among the early Struthious birds, a 

 new form which may be called Baromis regens. Its nearest 

 allies will probably be found in Diatryma, and Gastomis, from 

 essentially the same geological horizon. 

 Tale University Museum, New Haven, Conn., Sept. 20. 1891. 



