158 Prof. Schlegel on some Extinct Gigantic Birds 



we have introduced the corrections just mentioned. We have 

 here represented the bird in profile (see Fig. 2) that one may 

 gain a better idea of this animal — especially as Leguat has so 

 drawn the tail (apparently that it might be better shown), and 

 not half or three-fourths turned as are the remaining parts. 



When we compare this bird with other species of the Water- 

 hen- or E-ail-family, we shall observe that, although constructed 

 precisely on their ground-plan, it differs from them in several 

 respects, especially in its gigantic size, its tall figure, its long 

 neck, its proportionally very small body, and its white colour. 

 One might, for the three first reasons principally, regard it as 

 representing the Crane-form among the Waterhens. Notwith- 

 standing that it far exceeded in height even the largest of marsh- 

 birds, its weight would yet be, in proportion to this extraor- 

 dinary height, but very little, and with the help of its long 

 toes it would consequently be able, as the Waterhens do, to 

 run over marshy plains without sinking. Although it could 

 fly, it had much trouble, according to Leguat, in rising from 

 the ground; and its flight was doubtless slow and difficult, 

 owing to the shortness of its wings and the length of. its legs 

 and neck. It is probable that, like all Waterhens, it could run 

 fast, though not fast enough to escape from dogs, as Leguat 

 states that they could catch it, and that it tried to save itself 

 by flying up. As all marsh-birds, at least when they are 

 obliged, can swim, and Waterhens in particular swim volun- 

 tarily and even very much, so this bird also will have swum 

 regularly, and probably very well, owing to its light weight and 

 the extraordinary development of its legs and long toes serving 

 as oars. There is also no reason to suppose that its food and way of 

 breeding would have been very different from that of the Water- 

 hens. It was doubtless a stationary bird, being unfitted for 

 migration ; and there was no occasion for it to undertake voy- 

 ages. This seems to be all that one can, with any probability, 

 guess concerning its mode of life. Why, however, was this 

 Waterhen so gigantic ? Why was this gigantic animal just 

 destined for such a small place on our globe — a place where 

 were neither great rivers nor extensive marshes ? Why should 

 it be in colour entirely white, and differ in that respect from all 



