S62 Aiitediluvian Zoology. 



We proceed to a more important division, that of the 



VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 



Birds. — These remains also are of rare occurrence ; and 

 the same remark might be applied to them, with respect to 

 proportion, as to the preceding order. It does seem a singular 

 circumstance, that more birds have not been found fossil, when 

 we consider that they now are, as regards species, five times 

 as numerous as the Mammalia. The known proportions are 

 estimated by Baron Humboldt as follows : — 



In the world. 



Birds - - 4000 species. 



Reptiles - - 700 



Mammalia - 500 



In Europe only. 



Birds - - 400 species. 



Reptiles - - 30 



Mammalia - 80 



In the opposite or southern zone we find likewise nearly 

 five times more birds than Mammalia, and towards the equa- 

 tor the proportion of birds increases considerably. 



These facts are remarkably opposed to those furnished by 

 the antediluvian zoology, where, according to Cuvier's enu- 

 meration of fossil animals, it appears that in those ancient 

 periods the globe was inhabited much more by Mammalia 

 than by birds. 



Bones of birds have been detected in the oolite limestone of 

 Stonesfield by Dr. Buckland, and two species in the ferrugi- 

 nous sandstones of Hastings and of Tilgate Forest by Mr. 

 Mantell. Since the discovery of a perfect skeleton of the 

 flying reptile to which has been affixed the name of Pterodac- 

 tyl us, which appears both in the lias of Dorsetshire and in the 

 tertiary beds of Paris, it has been suggested by Dr. Buckland 

 that some of the bones at Stonesfield, which have been 

 hitherto assigned to birds, may possibly belong to this singular 

 animal. Should this supposition prove to be well founded, 

 our proofs of the ancient existence of birds will be much cir- 

 cumscribed. 



Ten species of birds have been furnished by the gypsum 

 quarries near Paris. * 



* The editors of the English edition of the Animal Kingdom have pointed 

 out the errors of compilers relative to fossil birds, particularly as to the 

 petnfied cucJcooSy arising from a mistaken quotation from Zannichelli, who 

 speaks of a fish bearing that name, and not of a bird. A mistake, equally 

 ludicrous, has been repeated in this country. Martin, fifty years ago, 

 described the bird called the stone curlew as existing in the neighbourhood 

 of Thetford. A work of very extensive circulation and popularity has 

 subsequently assured its readers that petrified curlews have been discovered 

 at Thetford, and the error seems likely to be perpetuated by other equally 

 accurate topographers ! 



