76 
FOSSIL MAMMAL GALLEKY. 
the Glyptodon, a huge extinct Armadillo, enclosed in 
solid barrel-like bony case. As these animals far surpassed in 
size their diminutive existing representatives, so the gigantic 
Marsupials of the corresponding period in Australia (Pleistocene 
or latest Tertiary), the Diprotodon and Nototherium, remains 
of which are shown in this room, greatly exceeded any 
of the species now existing on that continent. On the other 
hand, all the Mammals of the earlier geological periods 
of which remains are known, are of diminutive size, as seen 
in the very interesting series, mostly from the Purbeck (Upper 
Oolite) beds of Dorset and the Stonesfield Slate (Great Oolite) 
Fig. 47. — Skull of Tragoceros, or Samotherium, hoissieri, an extinct 
Okapi-like Kuminant from the Pliocene strata of Samos. 
of Oxfordshire, exhibited in the centre window-case on th 
east side of the room. 
Extinct Birds. The south side of this room (right on entering) is chiefly 
devoted to the remains of extinct Birds, including the famous 
Lizard-tailed Bird (Archceopteryx) of the Solenhofen beds o 
Bavaria (fig. 48), the oldest known member of the class, presentin 
many reptile-like characters, but with well-developed feathers 
on the wings and tail, the impressions of which are beautifully 
preserved in the specimen. A series of skeletons of the " Moas, 
or Dinornithidce, of New Zealand, birds in which no trace of 
wing has been discovered, shows the diversity in size of different 
members of the group, some far exceeding any existing Ostrich 
