420 ZOOLOGY 



SECT. 



first and second metacarpals. Three digits (d. 1, 2, 3) are clearly 

 visible in the more perfect of the two specimens that in the Berlin 

 Museum the metacarpals of which are usually stated to be all 

 free, in which case there is no carpo-metacarpus as in other Birds, 

 and the hand approaches the normal reptilian type. The number 

 of phalanges follows the usual reptilian rule, two in the first digit, 

 three in the second, and four in the third, and the ungual phalanx 

 of all three digits is claw-shaped and doubtless supported a horny 

 claw. 



The remiges, like the retrices, are in a wonderful state of pre- 

 servation (Fig. 1056), and are divisible, as usual, into primaries or 

 metacarpo-digitals, and secondaries or cubitals. The primaries were 

 probably attached to the second, or to the second and third, of the 

 digits just described. 



The pelvis and the hind-limb have the usual avian character. 

 The tibia and fibula are separate. The foot consists of a slender 

 tarso-metatarsus and four digits, the hallux being small and 

 directed backwards. 



In addition to the wing- and tail-quills already referred to, there 

 are remains of contour-feathers at the base of the neck and of 

 wing-coverts. Moreover, the rectrices are continued forwards by a 

 series of large feathers which extend for some distance along the 

 sides of the body; and a row of similar but smaller feathers is 

 attached along both anterior and posterior faces of the tibio-tarsus. 



A second species of Archa30pteryx, which has been named 

 Archceopteryx siemensii, has been found more recently in the same 

 locality. 



Sub -Class II, Neornithes. 



External Characters. In the general build of the body the 

 Neornithes differ from Archseopteryx chiefly in the shorter and 

 stouter trunk, and in the point of articulation of the hind-limbs 

 being thrown forward, so as to be almost directly below the centre 

 of gravity of the body : the animal is thus enabled without effort 

 to support itself on the legs alone. In a word Birds are essentially 

 bipedal, the only exception being the young of the Hoatzin 

 (Opisthocomus), which uses its wings in climbing. 



The neck is always well developed, and is often, as in the Swan 

 and Flamingo, of immense proportional length. The cranial por- 

 tion of the head is usually not large, but the beak may attain 

 extraordinary dimensions, and exhibits a wide range of form. It 

 may be extremely short and wide for catching Moths and other 

 flying Insects, as in Swifts and Goatsuckers; short and conical for 

 eating fruit, as in Finches; strongly hooked for tearing the bodies 

 of animals, as in Birds of Prey, or for rending fruits of various kinds, 

 as in Parrots ; long, conical, and of great strength, as in Storks ; 

 slender and elongated, as in Swifts, Ibises, and Curlews ; broad and 



