CHAPTER XII 



ANCIENT BIRDS 



"Nor is the value of the doctrine of Evolution to the philosophic thinker 

 diminished by the fact that it applies the same method to the living and the 

 non-living world ; and embraces in one stupendous analogy, the growth of 

 a solar system from molecular chaos, the shaping of the earth from the 

 nebulous cubhood of its youth, through innumerable changes and immeasurable 

 ages, to its present form, and the development of a living being from the 

 shapeless mass of protoplasm we term a germ." The late PROFESSOR HUXLEY. 



FOSSIL birds are but rarely met with in tlie stratified rocks; 

 hence our knowledge of the bird life of former ages is com- 

 paratively slight. But this is only what might have been 

 expected; for it must be remembered that birds are protected 

 by their powers of flight from perishing in such ways as other 

 animals frequently do. And even should they die on the water, 

 their bodies are not likely to be submerged ; for, being light and 

 feathery, they do not sink, but continue floating until the body 

 rots away, or is devoured by some creature, such as a hungry 

 pike. 



When did the bird make its first appearance, or debut, on the 

 earth? in other words, when did that primitive, but as yet 

 unknown reptile from which the feathered tribe came, first take 

 to itself feathers and assume both the habits and appearance 

 of a bird? This is one of those interesting questions which 

 remain to be solved by the labours of the palaeontologist or, 

 more probably, of a generation of palaeontologists. We have 



