Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 34.djvu/714

 he opened a new pathway in science. The thought of unity thus presented for the first time by Belon is the same that was declared two hundred and fifty years afterward by Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. Belon's division of birds—into the Fissipedes and the



AB. Birds have no teeth, but a cutting beak, strong or weak, large or small, according to the matter they have to pick to pieces and on which they live. M. Two long and narrow scapulæ, one on each side. Œ. Bone called the merry-thonght, or breast-bone, found in no animal except the bird. D. Six ribs, attached to the chest of the stomach in front, and behind to the six vertebræ of the back. F. The two bones of the hips are long, for there are no vertebræ below the ribs. G. Six bones of the ramp. H. The round bone of the knee. I. The sutures of the skull do not show unless it is boiled. K. Twelve vertebræ of the neck, and six of the back. L. The two key-bones. N. The bones of the arms or shoulders. O. The chest of the breast. P. The little bone of the elbow. Q. The large bone of the elbow. K. The bone of the wrist, called carpus. S. The knots and articulations, called condili. T. The pinion, called appendix, which is related to the wing as the thumb to the band. T. The bone after the wrist called metacarpium. U. The extremity of the wing, which is like our fingers. V. A number of bones at the end of the wing, two of which have the form of netting-needles (or shuttles); one larger and the other smaller, which is proportioned in the bird as in us the hollow of the hand, which is called in Greek Thenar, and in Latin Palma. X. The large bone of the thighs, one on each side. Y. The large bone of the leg. Z. The small bone of the leg. &. The bone given for the leg to birds, corresponding with our heel. AA. Just as we have four (quatre) toes on the feet, so have birds four (quatre) fingers, the hinder one of which is given in proportion as the big toe with us. BB. Four articulations in the outer finger. CC. Three articulations in this finger. DD. Two articulations in this finger, as also in the hinder one.