CHAPTER VI. 



THE SPINAL COLUMN OF BIRDS. 



Keeping in mind the law of harmony, let us 

 turn from quadi'upeds to birds. 



Birds are formed for flight : of the four 

 limbs, the two anterior are modelled into 

 wings, and the posterior, with few exceptions, 

 are organs of motion on land, or in the water; 

 and if we look at the skeleton, will be found 

 to be articulated to it almost at its posterior 

 extremity, so far removed is the hip-joint from 

 the fore-part of the chest. The structure of 

 the wings for flight not only supposes powerfid 

 muscles, but a firm, unyielding basis on which 

 to act. Consequently, we find the shoulders 

 kept apart by the furcula, or merry-thought, 

 and pushed forward from the deep and ample 

 breast-bone, by a large coracoid bone, while 

 a narrow blade-bone extends over the arch of 

 the ribs ; V)ut this is not all, the dorsal ver- 



