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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Dalya Alberge

Rare collection of bird fossils from 55m years ago donated to Scottish museum

Dr Andrew Kitchener inspects one of the rare specimens
Dr Andrew Kitchener, the NMS’s principal curator of vertebrates, inspects one of the rare specimens. Photograph: Stewart Attwood

A remarkable collection of fossilised birds that lived 55 million years ago has been bequeathed to the National Museums Scotland (NMS) in Edinburgh and includes dozens of species that are unknown to science.

Dating from the beginning of the Eocene epoch, they represent the early stages in the evolution of modern birds.

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