

GIANTS AND PIGMIES. 



41 



and claws, and other parts like a bird, and a tail like a reptile, 

 with two rows of feathers on opposite sides, coalescing at the 

 end. It had not the rudder shaped bone — which is common 

 to birds. Different opinions were entertained in reference to 

 its character. Some considered it to be a reptile, having a 

 very great affinity to a bird. Others supposed it to be a bird 

 with reptilian characters. Professor Owen read a paper before 

 the Royal Society, which settled the matter. It was demon- 

 strated to be a bird, and ihe name Ardiaeopterix niacrura was 

 given to it. The Professor's celebrated opponent M-as reported 

 to hold a view different from that he entertained. A grand 

 discussion was anticipated. The meeting was packed with 

 expectants. The two principals agreed. The meeting was a 

 quiet one. Many were disappointed. So my well informed 

 friend told me. 



Another specimen found in 1879 is now in the Berlin 

 Museum. From this we find that this bird had from 10 to 12 

 teeth in the upper jaw and 3 or more in the lower jaw, as well 

 as a long lizard like tail, observed in the first and three free 

 digits in each manus armed with claws. The first of birds 

 was certainly a remarkable form. We have had fishes with 

 rei)tilian affinities and reptiles wjih bird affinities. It is but 

 reasonable that we should have the first bird with something 

 of the reptile. Among the grand discoveries of Prof. 0. C. 

 Marsh we have birds with teeth, and hence called Oilont- 

 ormthes. In his magnificent monograph on these, hb gives a 

 graphic description and beautiful restoration of the Hesperoniis 

 regalis ^ size. This is a. toothed bird of the Chalk (Cretaceous) 

 Period, related to the great Northern Diver (Loon) or Penguin. 

 An unusually large loon in the Museum is 37 inches along the 

 back. Marsh's Hesperm'nis regalis is 54 inches. A Penguin 

 in our collection is 22 inches in height. The Hesperornis is 

 38 iiiches. So that it surpasses both in size. It has 66 

 recurved teeth in the lower jaw and 28 in the upper. It was 

 ah aquatic bird, and is considered to be the immediate successor 

 of the Archaeopteryx.' Prof. Marsh observes : *' Its nearest 

 land of rest was a succession of low islands that mark the 

 present position of the Rocky Mountains." 



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