Identifier: guidetofossilma00brit (find matches)
Title: A guide to the fossil mammals and birds in the Department of Geology and Palæontology in the British Museum (Natural History) ..
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: British Museum (Natural History). Dept. of Geology Woodward, Henry, 1832-1921
Subjects: Mammals, Fossil Birds, Fossil
Publisher: (London) Printed by order of the Trustees
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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sions on the stone (made when it was as yet only softmud) of all the feathers of the wings and of the tail. Theleg-bone and foot are similar to that of a modern perchingbird, but the tail is elongated like that of a rat, or of a lizard,with a pair of feathers springing from each joint, a characternot to be found in any living bird. More recently anotherexample has been obtained from the same locality, in whichthe head is very well preserved; this specimen is in the BerlinMuseum. A photograph and an engraving of the Berlinspecimen are exhibited near the window. Further examination * The equivalent in age of the Kimmeridge clay o£ Englarri.of strata.) (See table The BerlinArchseo- pteiyx. 90 Aves—Hesperorrds. Table-case,No. 13. of this newer specimen shows that the jaws were armed withteeth, of which fourteen may be seen in the figure of the head.The teeth appear to have been implanted in distinct sockets,and were smooth, pointed, and coated with enamel (see Woodcut,Fig. Ill, p. 89).
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Hesperor-nis. Fig. 113.—Skeleton of Hesperornis regalis (Marsh) restored; about one-tenth natural size.(From the Cretaceous of Kansas, N. America.) Here are also exhibited twenty-six casts of bones of Hespergrnisregalis,a large toothed bird, measuring neaxdy six feet from theextremity of the bill to the end of the toes. In habit it resembled Aves—IcMTi yomis. 91 the Loons and Grebes of the present day, but was incapable Table-case,of fliglit, and only the humerus, or upperbone of the wing, No. 13.remains in a rudimentary condition. Its legs and feet were verypowerful and admirably adapted for swimming. The teeth ofHesperomis were numerous and implanted in grooves, but the

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