14 The Bird 



feet and legs were little different from those of perching 

 birds of to-day, with strong toes well adapted to cling 

 to a branch. Finally, from a cast of the brain, which 

 fortunately was found with one of the fossils, we know 

 that, although small, it was that of a true quick-witted 

 bird. As yet science has no more to tell us. 



Our fancy may add an archaic attempt at song — a 

 lizard's croak touched with the first harmony, which 

 was to echo through all the ages to follow; we may also 

 imagine, if we will, leathery eggs deposited in a rotten 

 knot-hole of a Jurassic conifer. 



In both islands of New Zealand well-preserved remains 

 of giant birds have been discovered, to which has been 

 given the name of moas. One species must have reached 

 a height of ten or eleven feet, which would make it 

 tower above the largest living ostrich. They were, in 

 fact, not unrelated to these latter birds and, like them, 

 were flightless (in some cases absolutely wingless), and 

 they had great massive feet and legs. Native legends 

 among the Maoris hint that these birds were in existence 

 during the last few centuries before the coming of the 

 white men. 



In South America also, giant birds lived in ages past. 

 One, the PJiororhacos, stood seven to twelve feet in 

 height, with a head and beak like that of a gigantic eagle. 

 Unlike all eagles, however, this bird could not fly and 

 doubtless ran clown its prey, as a chicken runs down a 

 grasshopper. 



It is an interesting fact that in South America there 

 lives to-day a bird known as the Seriema, which is prob- 



