66 EVODUITUE OR LIFE, 
great number of neck-bones (cervical vertebrae), in the light 
character of the bones of the head, together with the 
structure of the foot, is probably the most bird-like of 
reptiles, and is to be considered together with the Megalo- 
saurus, Hypsilopodon, and other Dinosauria, as the repre- 
sentative of the ancestors of birds. It is not possible to 
say exactly which Dinosaur was the progenitor of birds, 
but as the Compsognathus is the most bird-like of reptiles, 
we take it as our example. The idea of birds coming from 
reptiles is suggested by the following facts: Ist, existing 
birds have much in common with existing reptiles; 2d, birds 
and reptiles, at an early period of their existence, cannot be 
distinguished from one another, as in the case of the embryo 
chicken and turtle; 3d, the most ancient bird (Archeop- 
teryx) is very reptilian, while certain extinct reptiles (Dino- 
sauria) are very bird-like. These statements are facts accepted 
by naturalists, whether they are evolutionists or not; they 
seem to us to harmonize in warranting the conclusion that 
birds are modified reptiles. Among existing birds the 
Ostrich family is particularly interesting, as they seem to 
be the representatives of a class once much larger. The 
Ostrich is found in Africa, the Rhea in South America, the 
Emeu in New Holland, and the Cassowary in the East 
Indies. They are known as the running birds, their wings 
being quite rudimentary. With the Ostrich family is 
generally placed the Apteryx of New Zealand. It is a 
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little bird, the miniature of the gigantic Dinornis, whic 
stood nearly twice as high as the Ostrich. The Dinornis 
has died out very recently, if it be indeed extinct. This 
very wide distribution of the Ostrich family suggests 
that the order was once much larger, extending all over 
the earth, and that the present representatives are the sole 
survivors. This seems more natural than to suppose that 
the Ostrich, Rhea, and Cassowary appeared independently 
in parts of the earth so remote. If this view be correct, then 
