THE LIVING WORLD. 
443 
But if we pursue our investigations with critical care we will be sure to 
discover a striking analogy subsisting between birds and mammals, though 
this connection is confined to a single family numbering a half dozen species; 
the most prominent characteristics we will now proceed to briefly note. 
The ostrich is a descendant of a gigantic bird that once had its home in 
Australia and New Zealand. It is very properly known as the Dinornis, 
meaning terrible bird , because in life it stood no less than eighteen feet in 
height, and possessed of proportionate strength, though the skull indicates that 
it was a stupid bird and less fleet of foot than the ostrich. There were several 
species c r this monster bird, all of which are now extinct, though it is probable 
that its disappearance occurred some time during the present century. Allied to the 
dinornis was the Apteryx, or Wingless Bird, which was supposed to be extinct, 
but is now known to exist in the swamp regions of Australia. Like the 
GREAT APTERYX OP AUSTRALIA RESTORED. SKELETON OF DINORNIS. 
dinornis , it is destitute of wings, being provided with simple rudimentary 
appendages which are useless even to increase its speed when running. The 
largest species, which measured some three feet in height, is no longer met with 
and is supposed to have entirely disappeared. Though both the dinornis and 
apteryx are classed among the struthious ( ostrich kind) birds, their appearance 
and habits were very different. The former was very ostrich like, having long 
legs and neck, and short bill. Its toes were made for scratching, and its food 
was vegetable, such as grain and grasses. The apteryx , on the other hand, is a 
short, thick bird, with rather short legs and medium neck, but the bill is very 
long and snipe-like, and is used for boring into the ground for worms and small 
mollusks, which compose its diet. When sleeping, the bill rests upon the 
ground to balance the bird, so that it stands upon a tripod, composed of the 
