Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1876-09-28


vegetable life to the lowest gelatinous
moner, composed merely of protoplasm
the steps must have been gradual if the
doctrine is to stand. When we now
look at nature werfind that the fauna
and fora fall into groups whose members
are like each other, but groups which
are widely separated, and between which
no intermediate forms are found partak-
ing of some of the characteristics of
each. Mammals, birds, reptiles are
sharply defined; There is no intermedi-
ate between mammal and bird, bird and
reptile. Within one of these divisions
there are, for instance, the numerous
family of pigs and ruminants, but be-
tween them is no connecting link so
of the crocodiles, Lizards, turtles,
snakes, etc., there are absolute breaks
between them. If it could be shown
that this state of things had always ex-
listed deadly blow would have been
struck against the theory if, on the
other hand. we can show that the diff
4erenees were not always such as they
! are NOV, aud thst the break did not
once exist, the doctrine will receive
most material aid, though il will not be
established: From the time that Cuvier
| discovered the anaplotherium in the
quarries of Montmartre the conclusion
! has been inevitable. The anaplotheri-
unl is a fossil pachyderm intermediate
between the pigs and ruminants, and
| that gap was closed; but vet research
showed no oconneeting Link between birds
and reptiles now SO sharply defined, and
TO this let us tarn our attention. In
popular estimation no two groups are
more widely different, the birds being
winged, feAthered and walking on their
hind Elegs. ~ apparently approximating
not at all to reptiles Fossil birds are
everywhere abundant in the tertiary
rocks, but they, even the oldest, are like
those of the present day. s. few wears
ago no. remains of birds had been dis.
covered below the tertiary, and men
were not wanting who prophesied
boldly that none would ever be found
there, OF late, however, q few have
been observed ia the lower rocks in Eng
9gafl,. and. are -abandspt IN the cretaceous
formations ia, America, where Professor
Marsh has found specimens wholly un-
ka own before. The hssperoFnis reqaIts
in the later .eretaee0us was a bird six
fest high, and reseGbled the reptiles in
this, that il had teeth. Before this dis
eOvery the possession of teeth excluded
ga animal from the birds, and is was
thus rendered necessary to modify our
ides Of the characteristics Of birds. The
cassr2 " aFy, also ual5ke birds in parts of
IT'S aHstOny, Also renders necessary
change ct The old views in. regard to
birds. La the middle of the Jurassic
formation there was found one feather
Undecided ia slate, which belonged to q
bird long unknown, but one specimen of
which was subseq lently found which
unfortunately was without its head, SO
that II ID impossible to say whether it
had teeth or not ; It's bind legs were
those of a bird, bat its yertebIB were
anlike those of any bird now existing.
1t had, moreover, the tad of reptile,
. bat with feathers, and its wings were
like those OF d pterodactyl; !; and eth
erss were found midway between birds
aHd Tpptfigs.-s& bird with fesdkebeG tail
9estnsl' oht "a rSistAse. Bssss.sss [ - i.ss.s
cases favor evolution. and show that in
the past creatures GVerstepped the
'b0ludaries of our classes and groups and
filled tba gap now eXistiRg. But il is
possible 10 Eli this gap Set more strik-
,it.glg, In the Inesc.Z 9ic. rocks are fossil
ay!hS eTestereB Of Agge proportions,
with head aad heck OF pterodactyis,
with sh6rt or l0sg tails and pneumatic
cavities ia tEeir b6Aps, and the large
breast bone of the bird, bat whose ante
Fi0f limbs were not birds wings, while
their posterieF limos were reptlias.
Throughout The nesG6oie rocks are
huge igaanod0ne,, megalOsEar5, etcs of
great diversity Of stTGctgre, soIae like
the HIND limbs Oi q bird The graaati6n
., 4