xviii. 3 



ARCHAEOPTER YX 



5" 



m fL^d, 



Fig. 307. Restored skeleton of *Archaeopteryx, compared with the skeleton of a 



pigeon drawn on a more reduced scale. 



c. carpal; el. clavicle; eo. coracoid; d. digits; /. femur; fi. fibula; /*. humerus; i. ilium; 



is. ischium; trie, metacarpals; mt. metatarsals; p. pubis; py. pygostyle; r. radius; s. scapula; 



st. sternum; t"i. tarso-metatarsus; It. tibiotarsus; u. ulna; v. ventral ribs; I-IV, toes. 



(From Heilmann, The Origin of Birds, II. F. & C. Witherby, Ltd.) 



but two fossil specimens from the upper Jurassic rocks of Bavaria 

 show us one intermediate stage on the way (Fig. 307). These *Archae- 

 opteryx certainly had achieved some powers of flight or gliding, but 

 they were less specialized for the purpose than are modern birds. 

 The whole body axis was still elongated and lizard-like. The vertebrae 

 articulated by simple concave facets as in reptiles, without the saddle- 



