n More's world various epochs are represented, and
that animals of different ages are living side by side."

"What do you think of the opkuk?" asked Featherstone, with a yawn.

"Well, I hardly know."

"Why, it must be a dodo, of course," said Melick, "only magnified."

"That," said the doctor, gravely, "is a thought that naturally
suggests itself; but then the opkuk is certainly far larger than the
dodo."

"Oh, More put on his magnifying-glasses just then."

"The dodo," continued the doctor, taking no notice of this, "in other
respects corresponds with More's description of the opkuk. Clusius and
Bontius give good descriptions and there is a well-known picture of
one in the British Museum. It is a massive, clumsy bird, ungraceful in
its form with heavy movements, wings too short for flight, little or
no tail, and down rather than feathers. The body, according to
Bontius, is as big as that of the African ostrich, but the legs are
very short. It has a large head, great black eyes, long bluish-white
bill, ending in a beak like that of a vulture, yellow legs, thick and
short, four toes on each foot solid, long, and armed with sharp black
claws. The flesh particularly on the breast, is fat and esculent. Now,
all this corresponds with More's account, except as to the size of the
two, for the opkuks are as large as oxen."

"Oh, that's nothing," said Melick; "I'm determined to stand up for the
dodo." With this he burst forth singing--

"Oh, the dodo once lived, but he doesn't live now;
Yet why should a cloud overshadow our brow?
The loss of that bird ne'er should trouble our brains,
For though he is gone, still our claret remains.
Sing do-do--jolly do-do!
Hurrah! in his name let our cups overflow."

"As for your definition, doctor," continued Melick, "I'll give you one
worth a dozen of yours:

"'Twas a mighty bird; those strong, short legs were never known to fail,
And he felt a glory of pride while thinking of that little tail,
And his beak was marked with vigor, curving like a wondrous hook;
Thick and ugly was his body--such a form as made one look!"

"Melick," said Featherstone, "you're a volatile youth. You mustn't
mind him, doctor. He's a professional cynic, sceptic, and scoffer.
Oxenden and I, however, are open to conviction, and want to know more
about those birds and beasts. Can you make anything out of the
opmahera?"

The doctor swallowed a glass of wine, and replied: