Ancestors Ge 
remain so long subordinate to the masterful giant reptiles. 
This was about the middle of the Jurassic period, and in 
deposits of this epoch have been found remains of the 
very first birds of which we know anything. 
Two specimens have been discovered and named Arche- 
opteryx (ancient-winged-creature). From these two little 
stone slabs, one in the British Museum and the other at 
Berlin, we know that these birds were about the size of 
a crow. Instead of the broad, fan-shaped tail of modern 
birds, the tail of the Archwopteryx was a long, jointed 
affair like that of a lizard, and was fringed with large 
feathers—a pair growing from each of the twenty joints. 
The wings were not large, and instead of the fingers being 
concealed by feathers, there were three entirely free 
digits, each armed with a claw, in front of each wing. The 
skin-covered jaws were furnished with teeth, but the feet 
and legs were much like those of an ordinary crow. 
Taken all in all, this was a most wonderful discovery, 
linking birds and reptiles together, and proving beyond 
all dispute the fact of their common origin. Perhaps the 
most surprising fact was the remarkable development of 
the plumage of the wings and tail, showing that perfect 
feathers were in existence at least six millions of years 
ago. 
In the rocks deposited in very ancient epochs are 
found many footprints which were supposed to be those 
of huge birds, but it is more probable that they were 
made by certain three-toed reptiles which, like birds, 
walked or hopped on two feet. Indeed Nature seems to 
have made several abortive attempts to produce bird- 
