  Our understanding of the nature of DLA systems at large redshifts, ostensibly
progenitors of normal disk galaxies, depends critically on their direct
identifications with galaxies, and the resulting measurements of their
properties. A few such objects have now been found, reaching out to z ~ 4.1.
Their observed luminosities are L ~ L_*, star formation rates a few M_sun/yr,
physical sizes ~ 20 kpc, and velocity fields of a few hundred km/s, implying
masses > 10^11 M_sun. While their morphology remains uncertain, the observed
properties are consistent with those expected of young disk galaxies in the
early stages of formation. We also find a statistically significant excess of
foreground galaxies near lines of sight to luminous quasars at z > 4. This
suggests a systematical gravitational lensing magnification of such quasar
samples, possibly with important consequences for the estimates of the quasar
luminosity function at high redshifts, and the deduced Omega_b in DLA systems
found in their spectra.
