The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-04-24
TOOTHED BIRD FOUND
Well Kept Specimen Brought
to Light In Kansas.
TIE RARBsT IN EXISTENCE.

Czsversfty of Kansas Professors Are
Studying a FOSSIL That Was Dug
Out of the ChaIlxfelds Near HilS
City-Discovery Expected to Settle
Much Mooted Questions.
Millions of years ago there lived 4
most remarkable animal that from re-
cent restorations must be classed as q
bird. saws the Kansas City Star. One
Of these long extinct species laid it's
fossils away so nicely in the Niobrara
eretaceous Tor. more commonly known,
chalk fields of western Kansas that
AR. Martin of the State university, aft
er spending hours in the broiling sun
On Solomon river four miles west of
Hill City, near Lawrence, Kan. dig
ging away the chalk from his newly
found treasure, found himself in pos
session Of the most complete specimen
OF the toothed bird, the heSperornis,
that has ever been dug from any field
In the world.
The subject vast a bird because it
had feathers as is shown by the Uni
yerslty Of Kansas specimen. upon.
which distinct fossil feathers have
been traced the only discovery of
feathers on these birds and one of
three or four instances in the world
where fossil feathers have been found.
The feathers appear to have been soft,
thiE and fluffy, like that of a young
chick.
The distinguishing characteristic was
the teeth, and it had goodfy number
of them, principally in the lower jaw.
They were similar TO serpent teeth.
about onexfourth inch long. sharp
pointed. curved and of great efficiency.
The bird was about four feet from
tip of the bill to the end of the tail
The neck was some twenty inches long
and very plant. 1t had no wings, as
they had long fallen from disuse into
rudinentary stubs under the skin. The
breast was fiat, like that OF an ostrich.
and the deshy tail. used in swimming,
must have been longer than that of
any modern bird.
1t was an aquatic animal and an ex-
cellent diver for a diet of fish as we'll as
q powerful swimmer, as is shown by
the mighty legs and feet. The bones
were all solid, contrary to the bone.
structure of modern BIRDS The feet
were seven or eight inches long and re
markably well developed for swift
swimming. The outer toe was the
strongest, contrary to all modern spe-
cies Professor S. w. Williston consid-
ers this the most valuable specimen in
his museum. The only other specimens
are in the Yale and National museums
and are not so perfect as this one.
1t is probable that no other specimen
of bird with teeth will ever be re-
stored, as bird fossils are the rarest Of
all fossils, and inasmuch as one of the
two other specimens of toothed birds,
found in Bavaria, recently sold for $5,,
900, the highest price ever paid for a
fossil of any kind
The University Of Kansas paleontolo-
gist takes great delight in working on
this, the best specimen in existence. 1t
is not only its great value that is inter-
esting, but there is great controversy as
to the position of the birds legs. Pro-
fessor f. A. Lucas of the National mu-
scum holds that the legs were fastened
sideWise, SO as to move like oars at
right angles to the body. He contends
this ancient type could never put tine
legs straight down as modern birds Or
fowls, but moved them backward and
forward at the side Of the body. Pro-
fessor Marsh of Yale believes, on the
other hand, that the feet did serve as
birds feet nowadays and could sustain
the body erect.
The question involves some ludicrous
conclusions. If the specimen was q
bird, it must have laid eggs and lived
in the deep inland ocean. Then could it
lay eggs without going on to the land?
And if it went on the shore, did it roll
ever and over sidewise upon the bank
and then start to tt1tning down again!
Or was it posspssur of d gymnast art
lost to modern birds aid could turn
successive somersaults to the warm
sands at the edge of the water? Anoth-
er scientist asks, 'sDid he let the tides
wash him up there and then lie there
until the tide came again. Not only
that, but birds with such light feathers
must occasionally hang themselves out
to dry, and Professor Marsh asked,
GLOW in the world could this bird get
up to dry if its legs could not be used
for waiking?"
At all events in the course of a few
weeks the question of whether it rolled
OF whether it walked will be settled. So
soon as the University Of Kansas pa
leontologists can get their bird together
the bones are in so perfect state OF
preservation that the only possible POI
sition Of the legs must become known.
s-
YDlsAGREEs' With SCHWA6.