THE TURKEY 95 



genious cast of the inner side of the skull of one of 

 these has shown that their brain was exceedingly bird- 

 like. That the iguanodon-like reptiles were in some 

 respects like the ostrich and its congeners is not to be 

 denied ; but then the ostrich and its allies are not 

 creatures on the road to become flying birds, but seem 

 rather to be degraded descendants of birds which once 

 flew. Moreover, the oldest known bird, the archeo- 

 pteryx, is not at all ostrich -like, but has much more affinity 

 with ordinary birds, save as regards its hand and tail. 

 Thus the origin of birds is a question still open to dispute, 

 and while welcoming gladly light from any side upon the 

 problem, we would carefully eschew a hasty dogmatism 

 on that, as on every other subject. 



