Page 178 - The Origin of Birds and Flight

176 The Origin of Birds and Flight

However, when you see pictures of Archaeopteryx or its imaginary
ancestors, it’s quite common for artists to show a scaly head. 130
On the basis of certain features in Archaeopteryx’s feather structure,
some evolutionists have claimed that the creature was a dinosaur that
climbed into the trees and then glided down, or soon took off by beating its
wings. In fact, however, Archaeopteryx had a perfect structure and asym-
metrical feathers, as can be seen from all the remains it has left behind.
The shape, structure, and general proportions of Archaeopteryx’s
wings are identical to those of modern-day birds. The fact that its wing
structure has remained unchanged for 150 million years, since the
Jurassic period, in other birds shows that Archaeopteryx’s wings were
created for flight. Those who claim that Archaeopteryx was unable to fly
cannot explain that asymmetric structure. 131
With its muscles and feathers ideally suited to flight, this was a full-
fledged flying bird. No fossil of a half-reptile, half-bird that lived earlier
has ever been unearthed. Therefore, with its structure so similar to that
of modern-day birds, Archaeopteryx presents significant evidence against
the theory of evolution.

The Claws in Archaeopteryx’s wings
Evolutionists use these claws as evidence that Archaeopteryx is an
intermediate form, that it evolved from dinosaurs. In fact, however, this
feature shows no relationship between this creature and reptiles. Indeed,
two modern-day birds, Touraco corythaix and Opisthocomus hoazin, have
talons that they use to cling onto branches. These two species are full-
fledged birds, with no reptilian characteristics. Therefore, the claim that
the talons in the Archaeopteryx wing mean it’s an intermediate form is
invalid.
In 1983, specimens of several species with talons in their wings,
belonging to nine separate bird families, were displayed in the British
Natural History Museum. 132 Clawed wings do not, therefore, make
Archaeopteryx an intermediate form, since this feature also belongs to
some birds alive today.