Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-15

teryX." This, so far as is known is the
earliest bird in the earth's history, and
great significance is attached to its struc-
ture. which is to be traced as accurately
as though the specimen were mounted by
an expert. The fore limbs for example
though modified into wings like those o.
birds OF today. We're apparently used by
e the creature for Srdsplng things or even
Tor walking upon, for they are provided
with three Well formed toes and claws.
so that this bird was also a four-footed
ANIMAL. The mouth OF the archaeopteryx
was provided, too. with numerous sharp
teeth, and he sported q long. jointed tail
resembling a lizards. Were * rot for the.
presence OF feathers. impressions OF
WHICH are round In the stone. this strange
creature might have been mistaken for
reptile 1t is now believed however
mat the archaeopteryx represents the type
from which all birds were evolved ana
which was, originally reptilian
Among the more striking finds In stone
have been the remains of veritable
dragons and sea-serpents. Indeed IL
appears that the latter. which are, at
the present time, SO elusive, and only
represented by single and rather
dubious survivor, We're at one period
Very common in all oceans. Python
omorph" is the name bestowed by
scientists upon the genuine and original
sea-serpent, and il has a Iong Sna..eiire
body. with fore limbs modified into fat
paddles. like a dolphin's. a truly dis
conctr ting apparition must this creature
have presented for IL frequently attained
a length of sixty feet or more and it's
countenance probably exhibited the vorac-
ity which it is known TO have possessed
1t may. however. prove something OF o
disappointment to those who are on the
lookout for the sea-serpent today to learn
that the last OF these creatures made its
final wriggle, according to the best scieIl-
tific authority, at that remote per.od OF
time when the famous chalk cliffs o.
England were in process OF formation.
The medieval dragon is generally. and
anrIa he Ia roc 6<a<J
Yet fossil discoveries In some have re-
vealed the fact that there really was,
at one time in the earth's history, a race
of hideous and huge reptiles provided
with long wings. literally flying dragons,
or ptCrosaurs. a number Of skeleton S, eci.
mems of these creatures are beautifully
preserved. SO perfectly, indeed, that 1t 10
possible for scientist of graphic ability
to make a drawing OF what they actually
looked like when they were alive.
There IS a keen competition among mu-
Seums and scientific institutions all over
the world to secure some OF the fossil
tifully. in rocks. 1t not infrequently
turns out that lucky fossil hunter comes
across slab Of slate which, siillfully
made to display fits treasure, proves TO be
literally worth it's weight I'm gold. fetch
ing a truly fabulous price from some
wealthy institution or private collector
Curious rock formations in the collec-
lions Of the Smithsonian Institution re-
cord the period Of the glacial invasion
when huge masses Of ice drifted across
the face of what is now the United States.
Among these specimens which show that
the northern part OF the country must
have been covered with glaciers. is a
pothole. similar to what is known In
Switzerland at the present day as a
moulin. Though this pothole was found
at Ridgeville Landing. Me-. II has its
exact coupterparts among the Alps to-
day. which may be observed in process
Of formation.
Other rock records in the Smithsonian
are curiously carved surfaces
highly polished. which resemble portions
Of architectural holdings. The carver in
this case, however. was the iceberg that
drifted across the rock at a period OF
time so remote that there Is no method OF
1t. Whether the ice came down
by land or sea, whether by glaciers
creeping over the face OF the country OF.
by icebergs and icefioes sailing on sub
merging waters. science is unable to de-
termine. Be that as Ii may. that the ice
came sweeping down over the northern
portion OF this continent In huge quanff-
ties and with irresistible force, these rock
.-f,a.~ affect.