6 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS 



such gigantic avine forms as Gastornis. Fossil 

 remains of this bird have been discovered in 

 the south of England (near Croydon), as well 

 as on the Continent. Specialists are by no 

 means agreed respecting its affinities, but its 

 large size is indisputable, bigger than an Ostrich, 

 and like that bird incapable of flight. Another 

 remarkable Ornitholite belonging to this era of 

 strange avine forms is the Odontopteryx toliapica 

 from the London Clay of Sheppey, represent- 

 ing the remains of a bird possessing curiously 

 serrated jaws. At this era appear the remains 

 of Halcyornis (also from the Sheppey beds), 

 considered by some to be allied to the Gulls ; 

 of Proherodius, showing affinities with the 

 Herons ; and Lithornis, provisionally associated 

 by Owen with the Birds of Prey, but possibly 

 more nearly allied to the Cranes. Osteornis 

 from the shale of Plattenberg at Glarus may 

 belong to the present wide-ranging and domi- 

 nant order of the Passeres. 



Passing on to the Ornitholites of the Upper 

 Eocene we have the remarkable series of avine 

 remains from the Paris Basin, with the identi- 

 fication and comparison of which the names of 

 Cuvier and Milne-Edwards are so inseparably 

 associated. Of the fourteen genera to which 



