The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-26
BIRDS or BYGONE ACES
FtDeons as Largo as Ostrfches--Eggs That
Wontd Hold Several Gallo,,s.

Prof. Marsh says: SIT is now gen
orally admitted by biologists who havs
made a study Of yertebrates that the
birds haye come down to us through the
dinosaurs. and the close affinity of tho
latter with recent struthlous birds will
scarcely be questioned"
Such ore some Of these bird-like Great
ares that, perhaps twenty feet high,
wandered over the shoals OF our neigh
boring State Of Conneotiout. Kansas.
not whit behind, produces birds with
characteristics 50 remarkable that they
would hardly be believed in were not
the evidences before us. When first
discovered they were thought to be fish
es; others considered them reptiles, but
It remained for scientific men to prove
them actually birds. Tue backbone is
like that in fishes, while the jaws are
armed with teeth, and their powerful
wings and formidable teeth would clear
ly seem to indicate creature capable OF
prolonged flight and OF carnivorous
nature. The most interesting specimen
discovered is the hesperornis. 1t is
gigantic diver, and the jaw is set with
deep inferior groove, thiclzly lined
with sharp-pointed teeth. The tooth
have acute crowns, covered with enamel
and supported on stout fangs. The OK
ternal appearance Of the poemaxillanes
seems to indicate that these bones we're
covered with horny bill, as in modern
birds. The wings are rudimentary,
Other birds have been found similar to
these that wero six feet high.
But it remains for New Zealand to
thoroughly rival Connecticut in its bird
production. The gigantic noa comes
from there. Descriptions Of it seem
now like tales Of the Arabian Nights, in
which the roc figures. They grew to
Height Of eighteen feet, were wingless,
and their bones were larger than those
OF al OK. Their strength must have
been remarkable. Strange to say, the
remains Of these monsters were found
in cave, which hos been called tho
"oave OF Birds" Not only these Great.
ures, but the romans of the Maolis. or
ancient inhabitants, were found with
them, showing conclusivoly that tho
moa is one Of the few animals that has
become extinct within tho memory Of
man.
One Of the most interesting birds that
has become extinct within the memory
Of man is monster pigeon, the Didus
sneI'tsts. 1t was an inhabitant OF tho
Mauritius island, and at tho time Of its
discovery, in 1903, twas extremely com.
mon; but 40 effectually has it been
eradicatcd that it is now only represent
ed by few pictures of the seventeenth
century, and two heads, foot, few
feathers, and some Of its bones that are
scattered about among the museums OF
continental Europe. From the pictures
above mentioned and the descriptions OF
the enrly voyagers, it appears that this
giant among pigeons was lnrge, bulky
bird, weighing soventy-tive pounds. Its
bill was long and strong, and the upper
part Of the mandible was 80 horny,
arched, hooked and ferooioua in appear.
ance that its discoverers for long time
considered it q ground vulture. Its body
terminated in rounded extremity, be.
ing destitute Of true tail feathers, having
a tuft Of plumes to take the place. Those
birds were 80 frequent that the Dutch
seamen destroyed them to obtain the
rounded pebbles that were found iu their
pouches.
The extinction Of animals Is supposed
by many writer's to have been caused
by natural oatastrophes, and the ease
with which these animals were wiped
out Of existence may explain the disap.
pearance OF other forms in the early tor
tiary period, in which man, though not
proved to have existed, in all Likelihood
did. Fifty years ago large bird, forty
inches in length, called the area aux, :
was occasionally found as faYg1so south os
Boston, Sad vas quite common in the
Arotlc regions. To-day not a single
specimen is known to exist in the world.
having become totally extinct, but by
what means will always roman an en-.
igma.
From Madagascar we have the re-
mains OF eggs that were found among
human Implements that were good
lit for two men, and that, after being
cut In two, we're probably used as YES
sells for holding water, their capacity be-
ing seyeraa gallons. The hen that Ibid
taAseese monster eggs is unknown to sci
ence, but must have been q wonderful
spectacle. Two other birds, the soli-
taire and nazarene, have also become
extinct within the traditions Of man.
The former attained q weight OF forty
ive pounds, had feet and beak like
turkey, but in other respects resembled
the didus above mentioned. The naza-
rene had only three toes, and from Its
bones we judge that it was thrice rs