CHAPTER XII 
ANCIENT BIRDS 
‘‘Nor is the value of the doctrine of Evolution to the philosophic thinker 
diminished by the fact that it applies the same method to the living and the 
non-living world; and embraces in one stupendous analogy, the growth of 
a solar system from molecular chaos, the shaping of the earth from the 
nebulous cubhood of its youth, through innumerable changes and immeasurable 
ages, to its present form, and the development of a living being from the 
shapeless mass of protoplasm we term a germ.”— -The late Professor Huxley. 
Fossil birds are but rarely met with in the stratified rocks; 
hence our knowledge of the bird life of former ages is com- 
paratively slight. But this is only what might have been 
expected ; for it must be remembered that birds are protected 
by their powers of flight from perishing in such ways as other 
animals frequently do. And even should they die on the water, 
their bodies are not likely to be submerged ; for, being light and 
feathery, they do not sink, but continue floating until the body 
rots away, or is devoured by some creature, such as a hungry 
pike. 
When did the bird make its first appearance, or debut, on the 
earth? in other words, when did that primitive, but as yet 
unknown reptile from which the feathered tribe came, first take 
to itself feathers and assume both the habits and appearance 
of a bird? This is one of those interesting questions which 
remain to be solved by the labours of the palaeontologist — or, 
more probably, of a generation of palaeontologists. We have 
