MODERN PERIOD 
From Humming-birds, as small as Bumble-bees, 
To Eagles, Vultures, Storks, and Ostriches. 
And on some scenes huge Moa birds are thriving, 1 50 
(Though be they not in this our day surviving) ; 
See here Dinornis, on his lonely plains, 
Twelve feet in height the feathered giant attains. 
Good wings, perchance his race of old could boast, 
But from disuse these now are well nigh lost. irr 
And doomed are Moas to complete their span, 
As other life, when face to face with Man. 
Wide different now the Mammal life is seen 
From what it had in early life times been ; 
When Horse and Tapir ; Civet, Dog, and Bear ; 1 60 
And various other beasts commingled were. 
By change of clime, and fitter life suppressed, 
Its pristine types have well nigh gone to rest. 
Across Time's stream, the ford stones, as it were, 
That led to Mammal life now scarce appear ; 165 
And egg-laying Duck-bills, and Spined Ant-eaters alone 
Remain of many a long gone stepping-stone. 
Marsupial life that further carried on 
The upward move by Monotremes begun, 
(Bringing in tiniest forms its offspring forth, 170 
To be in " pouch " brought on to larger growth), 
Now finds its range once wide and free drawn in, 
And all its giants vanished from the scene. 
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