Ancestors 7 



remain so long subordinate to the masterful giant reptiles. 

 This was about the middle of the Jurassic period, and in 

 deposits of this epoch have been found remains of the 

 very first birds of which we know anything. 



Two specimens have been discovered and named Archce- 

 opteryx (ancient-winged-creature). From these two little 

 stone slabs, one in the British Museum and the other at 

 Berlin, we know that these birds were about the size of 

 a crow. Instead of the broad, fan-shaped tail of modern 

 birds, the tail of the Archceopteryx was a long, jointed 

 affair like that of a lizard, and was fringed with large 

 feathers — a pair growing from each of the twent}^ joints. 

 The wings were not large, and instead of the fingers being 

 concealed by feathers, there were three entireh' free 

 digits, each armed with a claw, in front of each wing. The 

 skin-covered jaws were furnished with teeth, but the feet 

 and legs were much like those of an ordinar}^ crow. 



Taken all in all, this was a most wonderful discovery, 

 linking birds and reptiles together, and proving beyond 

 all dispute the fact of their common origin. Perhaps the 

 most surprising fact was the remarkable development of 

 the plumage of the wings and tail, showing that perfect 

 feathers were in existence at least six millions of A^ears 

 ago. 



In the rocks deposited in very ancient epochs are 

 found many footprints which were supposed to be those 

 of huge birds, but it is more probable that they were 

 made by certain three-toed reptiles which, like birds, 

 walked or hopped on two feet. Indeed Nature seems to 

 have made several abortive attempts to produce bird- 



