EPIORNIS, or AIPYORNIS, an extinct ratite bird of .Madagascar (eEpyornis maxi mus), interesting not only for iself, but because its remains appear to have formed the basis for the Arabic tale of the gigantic roc. It was much like an ostrich in size and structure, except for the massiveness of its limbs and the extraordinary size of its eggs. These have been found in considerable numbers in muck-swamps, or sometimes floating in the river-mouths, often in perfect condition, and are the largest and strongest eggs known, measuring about 13 inches by 91/2. These dimensions are twice those of an ostrich's egg, and an egg of the epiornis would hold the contents of six ostrich eggs, yet the epiornis was little if any larger. First made known to science about 1850, so many remains have since been found that about 12 species have been indicated, and a second genus (Mullerornis), which has been joined with Epyornis into the family zEpyornithidce. Tradition and the evidences of some bones in dicate that these birds were exterminated since human occupation of Madagascar began. See MOA.
EPIPHANIUS, Saint, Greek father of the Church: b. of Jewish parents near Eleutheropolis, Palestine, about 315; d. at
sea near Cyprus 403. In his youth he went to Egypt where at first he came under the in fluence of teachers of Gnosticism; but after ward he embraced monasticism, and returning to his own country there became head of a community of monks. In Palestine he made the acquaintance of the two western churchmen, Jerome and his associate, Rufinus; the friend ship of the three men was cordial and intimate till Rufinus' defense of the teachings of Origen angered Epiphanius, whose special mission seemed to be to obliterate every line written by Origen. He was made bishop of Constantia (the older name Salamis), in Cyprus 367, and held that see till his death. On one occasion, 394, he visited Jerusalem to denounce Origen ism. He must have been more than 80 years old, perhaps near 90, when he went to Constanti nople to charge the patriarch of that see, Saint John Chrysostom, with the sin of favoring the Origenists, but a. few words from Chrysostom opened his eyes. His numerous writings are now of little account, his theological polemics being distinguished by fervor rather than by penetration.