ALCiDai. BIRDS. Extinct Bikes. 
TUFTED PUFFIN [F. cirrhata). — 'I'his is abundant 
on the North Pacific Coast, as far south in winter 
as California. It is casually seen on the Atlantic 
Coast. Length, fifteen to sixteen inches. 
HORN-BILLED AUK [CeratorMna monocerata ). — 
Common on the Pacific Coast to California. Length, 
fifteen and a half inches. 
PARROQUET AUK {Phaleris psittacula) . — Pound 
in the North Pacific. Length, nine inches. 
CRESTED AUK {SimorhyncJius cristatellus) . — 'I'his 
is found on the North Pacific, but has not been ob- 
served on the coasts of the United States, either on 
the Atlantic or Pacific. Length, nine inches. 
WHISKERED AUK (S. camtschaticus). — Habitat, 
North Pacific. It is similar to the preceding, but 
smaller, with two series of white feathers on each 
side of the head. 
LEAST AUK {S. pusillus). — Called also Knob- 
billed Auk. It is very small, being under seven 
inches in length. Found on the North Pacific. 
ALEUTIAN AUK [Ptychorhamphus aleuticus ). — 
Formerly called Cassin’s Auk. Found on the Pacific 
Coast, south to Lower California. Length, nine 
inches. 
SEA DOVE (Mergulus alle). — Called also Dovekie. 
Abundant on the North Atlantic Coast, and in win- 
ter is often thrown ashore along the New England 
Coast during heavy storms. 'I'hey are not unfre- 
quently picked up in the interior after unusually 
severe gales. Length, eight and a half inches. 
BLACK-THROATED GUILLEMOT {Synthlilorham- 
plms antiquus). — Inhabits the shores of the North 
Pacific. 
TEMMINCK’S GUILLEMOT (a?, wurmizusume) . — 
'I’his is found in abundance on the Pacific Coast to 
Cape St. Lucas. 
MARBLED GUILLEMOT [BrachyrTiamphus marmo- 
ratus). — Habitat, Pacific Coast to California. 
KITTLITZ’S MURRELET {B. liUlitzi).—Hah\ta.t, 
North Pacific. 
BLACK GUILLEMOT [Uria grylle). — 'I’his is famil- 
iarly called Sea Pigeon. It is very abundant on the 
Atlantic Coast in winter. 
PIGEON GUILLEMOT [Uria columha). — Habitat, 
North Pacific. 
SOOTY GUILLEMOT [Uria cario). — Habitat, North 
Pacific. 
MURRE [Lomnia troile) is found on both the 
Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, reaching as far south in 
winter as New Jersey and California. 
THICK-BILLED GUILLEMOT [L. arra).— Its distri- 
bution is the same as preceding. It is called Briln- 
nich’s Guillemot (Uria brunichi) by Richardson. 
Fossil Extinct Birds. 
'I’he Cretaceous Period, in this country, exhibits 
the earliest evidences of the existence of this class 
of vertebrates. 'I’he triassic footprints of the Con- 
necticut Valley are pretty well established to be 
those of Saurians, or dinosaurian reptiles. 
We avail ourselves of the valuable Synopsis of 
Fossil Forms, arranged by Dr. Coues, from the mass 
coxi 
of new material collected by Prof. 0. C. Marsh, ol 
New Haven. 
In the order Picarios one new fossil and extinct 
genus, with one species, was found in the Lower 'I’er- 
tiary of Wyoming. It is about the size of a Robin, 
and is related to the Woodpeckers, apparently. It 
is named Uintornis lucaris. 
Among the Raptores two genera are known — an 
Aquila from the Pliocene of Nebraska and a Bubo 
from Wyoming, 
'J’he Gallinm are represented by a Wild 'I’urkey 
from the Miocene of Colorado. 'I'wo other smaller 
species are from the Post-Pliocene of New Jersey. 
'I’he Grallatores are represented by two species of 
Grus ; five species of an extinct genus, Aletornis ; 
two of an extinct genus, 'relmatornis, and three of an 
extinct genus, Palaiotringa. 
'I’he Natatores have one species of Sula, rather 
smaller than the Gannet, from the Miocene of Caro- 
lina, a Graculus from Idaho, and an extinct genus, 
Graculavus, from the cretaceous greensand formation 
in New Jersey. Puffinus is represented by one ex- 
tinct species from the Miocene of Maryland, 'I’he 
Guillemot has two allies in the extinct genus Catar- 
ractes, one from the Post-Pliocene of Carolina, and 
the other from the same formation in Maine. Laor- 
nis is an extinct genus, about the size of a Swan, 
from the marl of New Jersey. 
In Am. Jour. Sci. and Arts, Vol. IV (Feb., 1872) 
Prof. 0. C. Marsh communicated an account of cer- 
tain osseous remains which were discovered in the 
cretaceous formations of Kansas. 'I’he remarkable 
bones which are thus brought to notice are those of 
an extinct family, and even the great difference 
which is seen, as compared with existing forms, en- 
titles them to a distinct division as sub-class. 
'I'he extraordinary features which point to this 
latter determination are certain peculiar characters 
as seen in the vertebrie, the bodies being concave on 
each face, as in fishes. 'I’he type species of this 
group has well-developed teeth, also, and this is 
especially a feature differing widely from any other 
known to the class of Birds. 'I’he more important 
parts of the type specimen, Icthyornis dispar, were 
found intact; the skull was well preserved. 'I’he 
size of this specimen is judged to have been about 
that of the Domestic Pigeon, and its structure indi- 
cates an aquatic form, 'I’he jaws of this bird (as 
represented in Prof, Marsh’s figure) are about three 
inches in length, “ In each lower jaw there are 
twenty-one distinct sockets, the series of teeth ex- 
tending along the entire upper surface, 'I’he teeth 
are small, compressed and pointed, and all are directed 
more or less backwards, 'I’he crowns are covered 
with nearly smooth enamel, 'I’he maxillary teeth 
appear to have been numerous, and essentially the 
.same as those in the mandible. Whether the pre- 
maxillary bones supported teeth, or were covered 
with a horny beak, cannot be determined from the 
present specimen. 'I’he scapular arch and bones of 
the wing and leg all conform closely to the true avian 
type.” 'I’he wings are very large in proportion to the 
