158 



CHAPTERS ON EVOLUTION. 



Prior to the Oolitic epoch, however, and in the Triassic rocks of 

 America, certain large footprints (Figs. 78 and 79), supposed by some 

 authorities to be those of birds, are found. But these footprints may, 

 at the same time, be those of reptiles, and it is safer at present to 

 hold their exact nature as undetermined, and to assert that the first 

 unmistakable bird-fossil belongs to the Oolitic period. 



The Lithographic Slates of Solenhofen, in Bavaria, are rocks 

 resulting from the consolidation of the finely powdered mud which 

 once coated an ancient Oolitic sea- or lake-bed. On this fine-grained 

 deposit, belonging to the Upper Oolite series, the merest traces and 

 most delicate impressions of living organisms have been preserved 

 the impress of even a filmy jelly-fish having thus been brought to 

 light. In 1 86 1 the impression of a single feather was found, and later 



FIG. 80. FOSSIL REMAINS OF ARCH^OPTERYX. 



on in the same year, a Dr. Haberlein of Pappenheim brought to light 

 the fragments of a skeleton which was soon discovered to be of a 

 thoroughly unique kind. This scientific treasure was duly purchased 

 for the British Museum, and was named the Arc/uzopteryx macrura 

 (Fig. 80). The skull of Archaeopteryx was wanting in this first 

 specimen, but the leg, foot, pelvis, tail, shoulder, and some of the 

 feathers are well preserved, and by these relics the materials for a 

 strange history was in part supplied. Of the bird-nature of this creature 

 no doubt exists. In the matter of its feathers and feet it is wholly 

 bird-like. But it is also discovered to differ very materially from all 

 known birds. Thus, firstly, Archaeopteryx possessed a long tail 

 (Fig. 80), exactly resembling that of a lizard, consisting of some twenty 



