The Framework of the Bird 87 



recognize in these primitive types the wish-bone of our 

 Christmas turkey. 



In terrestrial quadrupeds and birds we usually find 

 the front limbs near the front part of the body and the 

 hind limbs much farther back, but it is interesting to 



FIG. 61. Girdle of a bony fish. 



notice that in the fish, Fig. 61, all four limbs or fins are 

 very far forward, almost or quite in the head region 

 itself. This is a result of the function of balance which 

 these structures almost wholly perform, the fin of the 

 tail furnishing the locomotive power. 



It is very interesting to notice how many bones have 

 kept to their respective places in the evolution of animals, 



