Re: Regarding Hou's Mesozoic Birds of China

["Nick Gardner" <ratites637@hotmail.com>]

Mickey Mortimer wrote-
> Hou does describe "Cathayornis" caudatus as lacking a pygostyle, and while 
> I don't normally like to doubt descriptions of specimens
> without additional evidence, only Hou has described Mesozoic pygostylians 
> without pygostyles (also some Confuciusornis, Longchengornis).  Hou also 
> doesn't have the best
> record for accurate interpretations.  I would say it was a juvenile
> character, if not for Liaoxiornis.  Like most aspects of Hou's (1997) taxa,

Perhaps someone should get a hold on the original description or photographs 
of C. caudatus?  Image searches on Google bring up nothing relevant.  And 
where were you going with... "Like most aspects of Hou's (1997) taxa,"?

Thanks for the response,

Nick Gardner

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