"Unfortunately, More is not at all close or accurate in his descriptions; he has a decidedly unscientific mind, and so one cannot feel sure; yet from his general statements I think I can decide pretty nearly upon the nature and the scientific name of each one of his birds and animals.

It is quite evident to me that most of these animals belong to races that no longer exist among us, and that this world at the South Pole has many characteristics which are like those of what is known as the Coal Period.

I allude in particular to the vast forests of fern, of gigantic grasses and reeds.

At the same time the general climate and the atmosphere seem like what we may find in the tropics at present.
It is evident that in 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.