ANATO:\IY OF THE FOWL 19 



well developed. The transverse processes on either side of 

 the cervical vertebra are penetrated by a vertebral foramen 

 Through each of this series of foramina passes a vertebral 

 artery, vertebral vein and a spinal nerve. The transverse 

 processes of the last cervical vertebra are provided with 

 ridges and excavations for muscular and tendinous attach- 

 ments. 



TRUNK 



(The numbers refer to Fig. 1) 



The dorsal or thoracic vertebrae (23) number seven in the 

 fowl and pigeon, and nine in the duck and goose. These 

 bones are usually fused or consolidated, giving great support 

 and stability to the wing. The dorsal vertebral region is 

 short The first and sixth vertebrae articulate similar to 

 the cervical vertebra, that is, by the bodies and the oblique 

 processes The seventh dorsal is fused with the first lum- 

 bosacral vertebra. The transverse processes of the dorsal 

 vertebrae from the second to the sixth are well developed and 

 bridged over with a thin wing of bone. The ventral spines are 

 well developed and partly fused to form a continuous ridge. 



In the bird the lumbar and sacral vertebrae are consolidated. 

 In the embryo there are fourteen distinct vertebrae which 

 soon consolidate with each other and with the ribs. With 

 these vertebral segments are fused the last dorsal and first 

 coccygeal vertebral segments. This fusion is so complete that 

 the segments are indicated only by the intervertebral foramina 

 through which the spinal nerves extend. This fused lum- 

 bosacral region forms the roof of the pelvic region. Ihe 

 lumbosacral vertebrae and ilia are fused. The dorsal spines 

 of the vertebral segments are indicated only m the anterior 

 portion. 



The ioints of the coccygeal or caudal vertebrae (2 are 

 freelv movable since in the birds of flight the tail is used as 

 a rudder. The terminal bone (28) is called the ploughshare 



"^There are seven coccygeal vertebrae. The last segment is 

 the larger and is supposed to have originated from the fusion 

 of several segments. It is shaped like a ploughshare and is 

 called the pygostyle. It supports that part which gives rise 

 to the twelve main tail feathers. 



The ribs are divided into the true and false. 



The true ribs articulate with the sternum by means ot an 

 intermediate bone. The false ribs do not articulate witli 

 the sternum, but are floating. .. ^ .i 



The first rib articulates with the quadrate portion ot the 



