The Collaborative International Dictionary
Gastornis \Gas*tor"nis\, n. [NL., from Gaston M. Plante, the discover + Gr. ? bird.] (Paleon.) A genus of large eocene birds from the Paris basin.
Wikipedia
Gastornis is an extinct genus of large flightless birds that lived during the late Paleocene and Eocene epochs of the Cenozoic era. The genus is currently thought to contain three or four distinct species, known from incomplete fossil remains, found in western-central Europe ( England, Belgium, France and Germany). More complete specimens are known from a fourth, North American species, which had previously been classified in the distinct genus Diatryma. Many scientists now consider Diatryma to be so similar to the other species of Gastornis that it should also be included in that genus. A fifth species, also previously classified in its own genus, is known from China.
Gastornis species were very large birds, and have traditionally been considered to be predators of small mammals. However, several lines of evidence, including the lack of hooked claws in known Gastornis footprints and studies of their beak structure have caused scientists to reinterpret these birds as herbivores that probably fed on tough plant material and seeds.
Usage examples of "gastornis".
I don’t know—I was just trying to explain why…” Gastornis searched for the word.
They’d brought Gastornis here after breaking into his office and removing the man from where he’d been cowering behind his desk, the last act in the day-long rebellion that had now left Archer in command of the prison.
All he’d known about the time T’Pol spent after she’d been taken from them was that Gastornis had held her in isolation, had tortured her in a vain attempt to force her to betray secrets relating to Vulcan technology.
He hated being in this position, having to depend on someone like Gastornis for anything at all, much less something as important as this.
And no one—not Colonel Gastornis, not the com officer, not even the guards who had escorted Reed to the military vessel that had borne him away—knew where the security chief had been taken.
When I was first brought to Colonel Gastornis, he told me his superiors wanted as much information on Vulcan activities within the neighboring star systems as possible.
That feeling came from this ship’s crew—no Tomons or Gastornises here.