. The bird, its form and function . l which is often present is only as large as theclaw of a chicken. The power of the ostrich to defend itself by kickingis proverbial, but the claw on thelarge toe is blunt and the ability toinflict injury lies in the terrible forceof the blow. Its ally, the cassowary,has three good-sized toes, and onthe innermost one a specially adapt-ed weapon in the shape of a strong,pointed, talon-like claw, four inchesin length. The two photographs (Figs. 312and 313) show how similar thetracks which the modern cassowarymakes in walking over moist clay,are to those made b
. The bird, its form and function . l which is often present is only as large as theclaw of a chicken. The power of the ostrich to defend itself by kickingis proverbial, but the claw on thelarge toe is blunt and the ability toinflict injury lies in the terrible forceof the blow. Its ally, the cassowary,has three good-sized toes, and onthe innermost one a specially adapt-ed weapon in the shape of a strong,pointed, talon-like claw, four inchesin length. The two photographs (Figs. 312and 313) show how similar thetracks which the modern cassowarymakes in walking over moist clay,are to those made by the bipedalreptilian Dinosaurs miillions of yearsago, which have been found in theConnecticut valley. Thus in our brief review we haveseen how the feet and legs of birdsserve them well in walking, hopping, running:, perch-ing, scratching, climbing, ])urrowing, swimming, diving,in addition to the finding of their food, fighting,preening their feathers, and in countless other storj of the birds foot has not half been told,. Fig. 312.—Tracks of Cassowary in soft clay. Feet and Legj 397 but enough has been said to arouse our interest inthis member and to put us on the watch for newfacts.
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbeebewil, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1906
