

1891.) Geology and Paleontology. 821 
avian osteology, and his past and present museum work, both in 
paleontology and bird-structure. 
. manus was smaller than co/umbianus, and decidedly smaller than 
P. ucasti. 
Another grouse was Palæotetrix giilii, a rare form apparently, and 
one smaller than a female Centrocercus, but considerably larger than 
the largest forms of Tympanuchus. It was probably related to several 
of the existing species, and may have been in the ancestral line of the 
sage cocks. Its remains exhibit osteological characters that differentiate 
it generically from our present tetraonine types. I have named it in 
honor of Dr. Theodore Gill, the eminent ichthyologist and biologist. 
Two new eagles were also discovered, but their fossil remains were 
not abundant. Aguila pliogryps I believe to have been a large bird,— 
somewhat larger than 4. chrysaétos, to which it was apparently related. 
In its proportions it was apparently of a more slender build, however, 
and may have had habits akin to the falcons, and was at any rate a 
very formidable bird. Aguila sodalis was a considerably smaller eagle 
than 4. pliogryps, though not much smaller than 4. chrysaétos. None of 
the lesser Accipitres were discovered. 
Among the Passeres, I met in the collection with the remains of an 
extinct blackbird, which I have called Scolecophagus affinis, it being 
related to Brewer’s blackbird, and probably in those Pliocene times 
resorted in numbers to the vegetal growth of the margins of the lakes. 
Corvus annectens was a raven, smaller in size than any of our present 
ravens, to which it was very closely related. 
It isnot my intention here to abstract any part of my ‘‘ conclusions ”’ 
in reference to the avifauna of the Equus beds of Oregon, as such 
remarks can well remain until the ea of the general work upon 
the subject. 
In closing, it gives me pleasure to tender my sincere thanks to 
Professor G. Brown Goode, of the National Museum, for the unlimited 
facilities extended to me in the matter of the loan of so skeletons of 
existing birds from the museum’s collections ; also to Mr. Lucas for his 
kindness in getting them to me after my request in iar direction had 
been granted. That material, added .to my own collection of bird 
skeletons, was ample for all purposes of comparison, for all the neces- 
sary existing species were at my command.—2&. W. Shufeldt, M.D., 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. 
Geological News.—General.—Mr. L. J. Clark confirms Flem- 
ming’s theory that the Island of Toronto is formed of material which 
came originally from the Scarboro’ Heights, and that the- mechanical 

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