io The Bird 



the Chinese, or that mankind is descended from the chim- 

 panzee or gorilla. 



For the purpose of making more clear and interesting 

 the ways in which birds have become especially adapted 

 to their surroundings and needs, we may consider Archce- 

 opteryx as resembling closely the typical original bird- 

 type from which all others have at least indirectly evolved ; 

 and thus having obtained a definitely fixed starting-point, 

 we may consider how some of the more representative 

 birds of the present day came to acquire their widely 

 differing structure and characteristics.* 



The tree of evolution of reptiles may be compared to 

 a growth where several great trunks spring from the 

 ground close together, towering up separately but equally 

 high; the topmost twigs of which are represented by the 

 living species of serpents, turtles, lizards, and crocodiles 

 respectively. A very different arboreal structure is pre- 

 sented in the genealogical tree of the Class of birds. Here, 

 from a short trunk, we have many radiating branches, 

 widely spreading and with thickly massed twigs, confu- 

 sedly intermingled ; so slight are the divergences between 

 adjoining groups and so equally do almost all share be- 

 tween them various reptilian characteristics. 



It is not necessary to concern ourselves now with the 

 processes of evolution, especially as scientists are still in 

 doubt as to the exact methods. Let us read our Darwin, 

 and hope for another, philosophically as great, to com- 



* There are one or two reasons for regarding Archceopteryx as merely 

 the tip of a parallel branch, but one sprouting close to the base of the avian 

 tree. 



