The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-04-09
1oo7HED BIRD FOUND
We'll Kept Specimen Brought
to Light In Kansas.

rniversity of Kansas Professors are
avinG a Fossil That Was Dug
a.. Of the Chall<feIds Near Hill
D;scovery Expected to Settle
x,ch Mooted Questions.
,Grions of years ago there lived a
act remarkable animal that from re-
oor+ restorations must be classed as
s,nd saws the Kansas City Star. One
- these long extinct species laid its
tossiIs away so nicely in the Niobrara
orotoceous Tor, more commonly known,
chalk fields of western Kansas that
Az Martin of the State university, aft
or snending hours in the broiling sun
Solomon river four miles west OF
mn CITY. near Lawrence. Kan, dig
ring away the chalk from his newly
sonpd treasure, found himself in pos
aossion of the most complete specimen
If the toothed bird, the hesperornis,
that has ever been dug from any field
in the Worlo.
Tho subject was bird because it
hod feathers, as is shown by the Uni
vorstv of Kansas specimen, upon
which distinct fossil feathers have
bepn 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,
thin and fluffy, like that of young
chick.
The distinguishing characteristic was
+be teeth, and it had a goodly number
of them, principally in the lower jaw.
They were similar to serpent teeth,
about one-fourth inch long, sharp
pointed, curved and of great efficiency.
The bird was about four feet from
tin 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
rudimentary stubs under the skin. The
breast was fiat, like that Of an ostrich,
and the feshy 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 diet of fish as well as
a 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-
HI dnunlnnn1 cruif e.
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 So
900, the highest price ever paid for
fossil Of any kind.
Ehe University of Kansas paleontolo-
giSt takes great delight in working on
this, the best specimen in existence. 1t
is not only it's great value that is inter-
esting but there is great controversy as
to the position of the birds legs. Pro-
fessor E. 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 the
legs straight down as modern birds or
fowls, but moved them backward and
forward at the side of the body. Pro.
lessor 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 a
Bird it must have laid eggs and lived
IN the deep inland ocean. Then could it
lay eggs without going on to the land?