Titanis is a genus of Phorusrhacidae, or "terror birds". The extinct family of large, predatory birds originated in South America and inhabited parts of the present-day United States during the Pliocene. Like all phorusrhacids, Titanis had elongated hind limbs, a thin pelvis, proportionally small wings, and a large skull with a hooked beak. Estimates placed Titanis at 1.4 to 2 meters (4.6 to 6.6 ft) in height and over 300 kilograms (660 lb) in body mass. Phorusrhacids are thought to have been ground predators or scavengers, apex predators that dominated Cenozoic South America. They may have swallowed small prey whole or targeted larger prey with repeated strikes of the beak. Titanis likely preyed on mammals such as the extinct armadillo relatives Holmesina and Glyptotherium, equids, tapirs, capybaras, and other Pliocene herbivores. Titanis is unique among phorusrhacids in that it is the only one known from North America, crossing over from South America during the Great American Interchange.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanis

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1816:

Facing rising discontent in France, Louis XVIII was forced to dissolve the Chambre introuvable, the legislature dominated by Ultra- royalists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chambre_introuvable

1887:

A fire that killed 186 people broke out at the Theatre Royal, Exeter, England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_Theatre_Royal_fire

1964:

Hurricane Cleo dissipated after causing 156 deaths, mainly in Haiti, and causing roughly US$187 million in damages across the Caribbean and southeastern United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Cleo

1975:

Squeaky Fromme, a devotee of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate U.S. president Gerald Ford in Sacramento, California. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Gerald_Ford_in_Sacramento

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

pitch-perfect: 1. Of a person: able to exactly reproduce a musical note or tune, manner of speaking, etc. 2. (figurative) 3. Extremely accurate. 4. Utterly flawless and suitable with respect to appearance, atmosphere or tone, expression, or other characteristics. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pitch-perfect

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The public display of religion is not God. We do not put God in our nation's life by placing the Ten Commandments in courthouses, nor do we evict God by removing the Ten Commandments from public property.   --John Danforth https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Danforth