Identifier: guidetofossilmam00brit (find matches)
Title: A guide to the fossil mammals and birds in the Department of geology and palontology in the British Museum (Natural history) ... With 6 plates and 88 text-figures
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: British Museum (Natural History). Dept. of Geology Woodward, Arthur Smith, 1864-1944
Subjects: Mammals, Fossil Birds, Fossil
Publisher: London : Printed by order of the Trustees (by W. Clowes and sons, limited)
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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Text Appearing Before Image:
They seem to have been most closely similar to theApteryj- and moas of Xew Zealand, and one species, Aepyoraistitan, of which there are limb-1 tones in Wall-case 25 and aplaster cast of a limb on Stand II, probably exceeded in sizethe largest of the New Zealand birds. A specimen of moderatedimensions, .^C2:)?/or?us7w/f?c5ra?if?i!i, is represented in Case DDby a reconstructed skeleton, which exhibits a short andbroad ))reastbone, like that of Apteryx, with remains of a verysmall wing. E,L!gs of Acpyornis are not uncommon in the sandbordei-ing the lakes of )\Iadagascar, and they are sometimeswashed out during stormy weather. Under these circumstancesthey float on the water and are picked up by the natives.Fine examples are shown in Case DD, The largest measuresthree feet in its largest circumference by two feet six inchesin girth, and its liquid contents would equal a little more thantwo gallons. Such eggs would probably be laid by the largest B.M. GUIDE FOSS. MAMM. AND BIRDS. PLA.TE V.
Text Appearing After Image:
Skeleton of the (Tigantic Moa (Dinornis maximus) from New Zealand;ouc-i5cvcntccnth nat. size. (Case GG.) \Tu face p. 92. AVES. 93 Wall-ease25. species, Aepyornis titan and A. maxiiiULS, but it is worthy of Wall-casenote that in the New Zealand Apteryx the egg is enormous ^^q compared with the size of the bird which lays it (see Case GG).The living rheas of South America were preceded in theTertiary period by large birds like Brontornis, of whichplaster casts of limb-bones are exhibited in Wall-case 25.The two-toed ostriches, which are now confined to Africaand Arabia, ranged into the Indian and south-easternEuropean regions in Pliocene times. Eemains of Struthioasiaticus from the Siwalik Formation of India are placedwith the skeleton of a modern ostrich in Case EE. A Case EE,small piece of limb-bone from the Eocene of the Fayum,Egypt, exhibited in Table-case 12, prolmbly represents anancestor of the ostriches, which has Iieen named Ercmopezus eocaenus. Order III.—SAURURJE. Birds are

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