SUBFOSSIL BIRDS. 5 



The Eocene, or earliest Tertiary period, is more fruitful. One Gastomis, as large 

 as an Ostrich, incapable of flight, though able to swim ; Ldtliornis, as resembling 

 a Vulture ; Dasomis, of Struthious character ; Odontoptoryx, having jaws armed 

 with true teeth ; and others allied to the Kingfishers, Gulls, Herons, etc. 



The fossils of the Paris basin contain several specimens of extinct birds allied 

 to Flamingoes, Rails, birds of prey, game birds, etc. 



In the Miocene or middle division of Tertiary strata remains have been found 

 of extinct birds allied to Flamingoes, Storks, Snipes, Gulls, Divers, etc., and in the 

 lower ranges of the Himalaya those, apparently, of a true Strwthio (Ostrich), an 

 Argala (Adjutant), and possibly a large species of Phaeton (Tropic Bird). 



In the Pliocene or modern Tertiary deposits, those of a bird of prey, and of 

 several water birds, Eagles, Cranes, etc. In the Post-Pliocene the remains of a 

 Turkey, Crane, etc. 



From caves in France a large and extinct Crane ; in Malta a gigantic Swan ; 

 and in S. America a large Crax and a large Rhea. 



SUBFOSSIL BIRDS. 



Birds' bones from the Danish kitchen middens reveal the existence of two 

 species long since vanished from the spots where their remains are found, viz. 

 the Capercailzie {T. wogallus) and the Great Auk or Garefowl (A. impennis). 



From the fens of East Anglia a form of Pelican now extinct, not only in 

 England, but even in Northern Europe. 



New Zealand was formerly inhabited by a gigantic race of birds, Dinomithidce 

 (Moas, eleven species grouped in two families), some of which considerably 

 exceeded in size the modern Ostriches. The situation and state of preservation 

 of the abundant remains which have been found indicate that they existed down 

 to comparatively recent times, and were probably exterminated by the present 

 Maori inhabitants of the islands. Feathers which have been found associated 

 with the bones show the presence of a large after shaft, as in Emeus and Casso- 

 waries, but some of the species at least resemble the Kiwis, alone of existing 

 Eatite birds in possessing a hind toe to the feet. The wings were quite rudi- 

 mentary, if not altogether absent, no trace of a wing-bone having been found 

 with any of the numerous skeletons discovered. Egg white and a foot long. 

 In the same formation Harpagomis, a bird of prey — of stature sufficient to have 

 made the largest Dinornis its quarry. Gnemiomis, a gigantic goose. 



From Australia Dromceomis, an extinct Struthious bird allied to the well- 

 known Emeu. 



.MpyornithidcB. Fossil remains from superficial deposits in Madagascar show 

 the existence in a very recent geological period of several species of Eatite birds, 

 which bear much resemblance to the Dinomithidoe. One of the most striking 

 characteristics was the enormous size (both absolute and relative) of the egg, in 

 which they resemble the Kiwis rather than the Moas. 



^. maximus, a species which laid an enormous egg (nearly a yard in circum- 

 ference and over a foot in length) not unnaturally recalls the mythical Eoc, of 

 Arabian tales. 



