File:The bird; its form and function (1906) (14569229867).jpg

Identifier: birditsformfunct01beeb (find matches)
Title: The bird; its form and function
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Beebe, William, 1877-1962
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: New York, Holt
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Text Appearing Before Image:
ail which is often present is only as large as the claw of a chicken. The power of the ostrich to defend itself by proverbial, but the claw on the large toe is blunt and the ability to inflict injury lies in the terrible force of the blow. Its ally, the cassowary, has three good-sized toes, and on the innermost one a specially adapted weapon in the shape of a strong, pointed, talon-like claw, four inches in length. The two photographs (Figs. 312 and 313) show how similar the tracks which the modern cassowary makes in walking over moist clay, are to those made by the bipedal reptilian Dinosaurs millions of years ago, which have been found in the Connecticut valley. Thus in our brief review we have seen how the feet and legs of birds serve them well in walking, hopping, running, perching, scratching, climbing, burrowing, swimming, diving, in addition to the finding of their food, fighting, preening their feathers, and in countless other ways. The story of the birds foot has not half been told.
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 312.—Tracks of Cassowary in soft clay. Feet and Legs 397 but enough has been said to arouse our interest in this member and to put us on the watch for new facts.

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