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Ancient Birds (Nor is the value)

"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 comparatively 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 début, 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 palæontologist-or, more probably, of a generation of palæontologists. We have already alluded (see p. 126) to Professor Huxley's theory that birds are descended from Dinosaurs; but though there is much to be said in favour of the idea, we prefer, for our part, to wait and see what evidence may yet turn up on this subject, and, like the Irishman, to "prophesy after the event," i.e. when further discoveries have been made. Sir R. Owen never favoured the theory, and, for all palæontologists can tell, it may just as well be that both birds and pterodactyls (flying reptiles) are descended from a common stock; the one line choosing to fly by means of a thin membrane attached chiefly to a single long finger, while the others thought they could do quite as well-in fact betterby growing feathers on their arms and fingers. All great problems in Nature are solved slowly, by the patient accumulation of evidence; and the one above alluded to is no exception to the rule.