Appeal of Archaeopteryx to The Natural History 



Society 



By Another Fossil 



I'm just an Archaeopteryx, and sadly out of date; 

 My present habitation is the Solenhofen slate. 

 I used to have a cosy nest and laid my eggs by sixes; 

 And there in peace I raised my little Archaeopteryxes. 

 I'm asking for your sympathy because I've lately heard 

 That you're always kind and helpful to a persecuted bird. 

 I saw it in a fossil sheet that sometimes comes my way— 

 "The Paleozoic Herald" -that I read the other day. 

 We had never any trouble in those old Jurassic times, 

 For we hadn't any enemies to hate us 



And we never were afraid 



That the millinery trade 

 Would be likely ever to exterminate us. 



The youthful Cain and Abel 



Did'nt shoot us for the table 

 With a prehistoric sling-shot or a bow— Ah! 



And the lady's Easter bonnet 



Didn't have a feather on it, 

 Nor a whole stuffed Ichthyornis nor a Moa! 

 Now the reason for this happy state you hardly will believe, 

 Why there was'nt any Adam, and there was'nt any Eve! 

 And yet we have a grievance, and a bad old grievance too, 

 And we need your help, dear ladies, all the same; 

 For I'm sure you will agree with me that it will never do 

 To be nothing of a bird except the name, 



And I would 'nt have you think 



That I'm just a missing Hnk 

 In developing the plan of evolution! 



If I had'nt any gizzard 



Does that prove that I'm a lizard 

 With an unknown transmogrific constitution? 



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