ANOTHER "MISSING LINK."

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1521, 20 March 1885, Page 2

ANOTHER "MISSING LINK."

! Wo-hlits ii-vt-r c-ise, esp-ciiMy in t":it-« t">. irv-!i;ul of z .v*!i>:jy and ptlasint<>!o, M . Xriily fv.-ry il.iy iii j w forma of ;j!ii-i«'nr, life are li-jins; h imimrird oni of tiie earth's cru-st. " [ssiij: links" a iv t iriiii!^ up ahnost too rapidly for ;!u- p i!jw intolosfis!; to accurately des i-v\\u> tliiiui. But pt-'haps the most ri'ini". k.tbic of recent Z'>olo^icnl in citloiiJs is t.'iefliscoveiy of a fmir footed : hii'l. WV had found foatlit*>l reptiles in tli'- O'iitie ntcks and sn tho natur.i- , l ; st was oppii-iiiintled to rec>iv#» p.uy- • tiling that tnriH-d up in th« fossil suto. But this " four footed Kird" is still living, and iuli:il>itst)ie islmd of Marajo iv tlic Lower Am izoik It is only fourfi»i.«*Jl h:)'.vver, daring infancy. Tlie annouiicement of its *-xisteiice has o-iiy just > re n niadi; to tJie Chicago Aoil J ;ny of S:i-ia by M: E. .\r. Bi ii; ! ! mi, who lms for some time l>een studying the bird's etabr^-olojjy. Tlih ; Aoidi-rny will shortly publish th<» ■ pnper, wi;h numerous plnt**s, etc., Mr : B.ighim fiuds that in the d«»vel>ipm,»ntof tliis bird, froiu wliat cor- . ve*]nv. :ds to about the embryonic ; devd >pm^i)t of our common fowl at ■ t ho tenth day of |iucul>;ition, the fora ft»-t B')'>wed their chatactfis unmistakabiy through the eg^ (K'volopment. fiien'O to a period of bcvitul d;i>*s iit'tei 1 ]i itching the fore f«-^t, tOJR, <fee. s were as clearly characterised as similai' ' pa 1 ts o'i tlie hind layrs. LxUtv on tho. } d gits and ulaws ofthef'-re feet an» j fj:int.-d. and the true l>ird asserts i ,ts; If. Tins example, Uowevt-i-, rou. 'hn j JXt as it were, tor the pilre >utoloi : ;i->j I tiie coii:se which has been taken ia the I .leve!op:m»nt of biifla from foar-faoted ) ain-es:. ■»;■■'. The name of Mi" BiiiiltAm'a i iem:ir':ial)l« bu-d is Ophisthocoma oria* ; tata.