BIRDS 
The Raffles Museum possesses above 520 different spe- 
cies of Birds, which, according to the classification adopted by 
the British Museum, would have to be divided into 21 Orders 
and 67 Families. For the purposes of this popular * Guide ' 
such a classification would be too detailed. However, visitors 
who desire so, can obtain a printed check list of the Birds, 
classified as above indicated, at the Library Office, A simpler 
arrangement has here been adopted. 
There is no visitor to the Museum who lias not so much 
knowledge of the anatomy of birds, as not to know that the 
great majority of them possesses a ' lucky bone ' and a sort of 
keel to their breastbone, as seen in any fowl which comes to the 
table- The ' lucky bone ' or furcula, corresponds to the two 
collar bones of the human body, fused together, and both the 
furcula and the keel of the breastbone serve for the attachment 
of the muscles of flight. A few birds have lost the power of 
flight, and in them those two bones, together with the muscles 
of flight and the organs of flight, t, e, the wings, are absent or 
almost so. In their place the legs, and consequently the power 
of runnings are enormously developed. These are the Ostriches 
(Africa), the Rheas (S. America), the Cassowaries and Emeus 
(Australia and .neighbouring islands), and the Kiwis or Apteryx 
(New Zealand). None of these 'Running Birds * or ' Cursores * 
occur in the Malay region. However^ the Cassowary {both 
stuffed and skeletonized) is exhibited, and the visitor is advised 
to compare its skeleton with that of any other bird, say, that of 
the Flamingo. 
The remaining birds are comprised under the name 
Carinatae, because they have a keel (carina) to their breastbone. 
They may be divided into seven Orders. 
GaUinaceae : Game Birds or Pheasants. 
Cnlumbinae : Pigeons. 
Natatares : Swimming Birds. 
(jraliutot'ci : Wadini^ Bird&. 
