14 The Bird 
feet and legs were little different from those of perching 
birds of to-day, with strong toes well adapted to cling 
to a branch. Finally, from a cast of the brain, which 
fortunately was found with one of the fossils, we know 
that, although small, it was that of a true quick-witted 
bird. As yet science has no more to tell us. 
Our fancy may add an archaic attempt at song—a 
lizard’s croak touched with the first harmony, which 
was to echo through all the ages to follow; we may also 
imagine, if we will, leathery eggs deposited in a rotten 
knot-hole of a Jurassic conifer. 
In both islands of New Zealand well-preserved remains 
of giant birds have been discovered, to which has been 
given the name of moas. One species must have reached 
a height of ten or eleven feet, which would make it 
tower above the largest living ostrich. They were, in 
fact, not unrelated to these latter birds and, like them, 
were flightless (in some cases absolutely wingless), and 
they had great massive feet and legs. Native legends 
among the Maoris hint that these birds were in existence 
during the last few centuries before the coming of the 
white men. 
In South America also, giant birds lived in ages past. 
One, the Phororhacos, stood seven to twelve feet in 
height, with a head and beak like that of a gigantic eagle. 
Unlike all eagles, however, this bird could not fly and 
doubtless ran down its prey, as a chicken runs down a 
grasshopper. 
It is an interesting fact that in South America there 
lives to-day a bird known as the Seriema, which is prob- 
