aves. 329 



allied to Scolopax, Tringa, and Pelidna, of the size of our 

 woodcocks, lapwings, and sanderlings ; and the natatorial, by 

 species allied to the cormorant, but one of them of larger 

 size, though less than a pelican ; also by a species akin to the 

 divers {Merganser). 



The remains of birds become more abundant and varied as 

 we approach the present time ; especially in the miocene strata, 

 so richly developed in France, although wanting in Britain. 

 One of the most singularly-modified forms of beak is shewn 

 by the flaniiugo. The fossil skull of a species of this genus 

 (Phcenicopterus) has been found in the miocene fresh-water 

 deposits of the plateau of Gergovia, near Clermonte-Ferrand ; 

 the entire metatarsal bone of a species of eagle (Aquila) or 

 osprey (Pandion) in the same deposits at Chaptusal, Allier ; 

 and the humerus of a bird allied to and as large as the alba- 

 tross, in the molasse coquilliere marine at Armagne. Eemains 

 of a vulture, most probably a Cathartes, have been found in 

 the miocene lacustrine deposits of Cantal. Indications of all 

 the other orders of birds, save the great Cursores or Struthi- 

 onida3. have also been discovered in miocene strata — those of 

 wading birds being the most numerous. 



Fossil eggs of birds occur in miocene deposits in Auvergne ; 

 and impressions of feathers have been discovered in the 

 pliocene calcareous marls at Montebolca. In pliocene brick- 

 earth deposits in Essex has been found a fossil metatarsal of 

 a swan, as large as, and not distinguishable from, the existing 

 wild swan ; in the pleistocene clay at Lawford a fossil 

 humerus like that of a wild goose. But most of the ornitho- 

 lites of this recent tertiary period have been discovered in 

 ossiferous caverns. They belong to birds closely resembling 

 the falcon, wood-pigeon, lark, thrush, teal, and a smaller wader. 

 The writer has received information of skeletons of birds 

 found deeply imbedded in stratified clay at Aberdeen and 

 Peterhead. 



