Wonders of the Bird World 



Thus a problem of great interest is at once suggested, of 

 which I speak more fully in a subsequent chapter on the 

 ' Geographical Distribution of Birds.' 



Figure of the A rchaopttryx. 

 From a picture by W. P. Pycraft. 



Certainly one of the most wonderful of birds must have 

 been the Arch&opteryx, an archaic type of the Jurassic 

 age, and known only from the fossil 

 remains of two specimens discovered 

 in the lithographic slate of Solenhofen 

 in Bavaria. Like several other ancient 

 forms of bird life, the Archaopteryx, or 

 Lizard-tailed bird, possessed actual 

 teeth, and it had a very reptilian- 

 looking head. That it was a real bird, however, is proved 

 by the impression of the feathers which are to be seen 



Head of A rckaopteryx. 



