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A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



to a much less extent. In these fossils indeed, fusion seems to 

 have taken place, but not so completely as to obliterate the tell- 

 tale sutures. The fingers differ from those of modern birds in 



two particulars — each terminated in a large claw, and the third 

 finger had as many as four phalanges, or separate segments, 

 as against a single phalanx in modern birds. Claws occur to- 

 day only on the thumb and second finger, and here they are 



