BIKD LIFE 231 



believed to be those of gigantic birds. They are now 

 commonly accepted as having been made by extinct 

 lizards. 



The three clawed fingers on the wing of the Archseop- 

 terix are met half-way by two serviceable claws on the 

 wings of the young of an existing bird, the Hoatzin, 

 the ' stinking Pheasant ' of the Valley of the Amazon. 

 With the help of their claws and the beak, which is 

 used like a Parrot's, as an extra hand, the nestlings of 

 this strange bird, which commonly builds its nest over 

 a stream, before they can fly, crawl about the bushes. 

 The young birds, if they fall into the water, swim and 

 dive like newts. 



The Hoatzin is the only known bird still retaining 

 two clawed wing-fingers ; but a single claw or Spur on 

 the wing is still to be found in several birds. The Spur- 

 winged Goose, and the Horned Screamers, whose con- 

 certs on the plains of La Plata Mr. Hudson has 

 graphically described, are instances of the kind. 



But in such deep matters as the origin or special 

 use of anything we see in nature, it is prudent to 

 accept with reserve even the most apparently self- 

 evident conclusions. For proof of this, if proof is 

 needed, it is unnecessary to look beyond birds' bones. 

 These are in most cases hollow, and connected with 

 air- sacks ; a wonderful contrivance in the days of our 

 youth we were taught to believe for lightening a body 

 which was to be lifted in flight. Nowhere in the realm 

 of Nature was a clearer or more beautiful adaptation of 

 means to end; unquestionable until a meddlesome 



