Page 66 - The Origin of Birds and Flight

Breast (thorax)
Protrusions with hook-
like ends facing back-
ward from their ribs
reinforce the chest cavity
around the lung and
heart. This protects the
vital organs from the for-
ces that arise during
BIRDS’ BONES IDEAL
flight and the water pres-
sure to which diving STRUCTURE FOR
birds are exposed.
FLIGHT IS ONE
The front five ribs bind
the vertebrae to the ster- OF THE PROOFS
num. These vertebrae are
OF CREATION
tightly bound in order to
resist the twisting and
bending that arises
during wingbeats.

Legs and Feet
The order of the bones in
birds’ legs—femur, tibia,
and fibula—is particularly
unique. The broad points of
attachment of the lower leg
Pelvic Belt
bones helps to absorb
Birds’ pelvic bones also
shocks during takeoffs,
have this fused struc-
landings, running and
ture. The hip, breast-
bouncing. The bones in the
bone and tailbones are
lower leg are fused together,
combined so that the
which gives an extra length
leg, tail and abdominal
that partially absorbs the
muscles can hold on to
noise of the foot. It provides
it. The fused tail bones
extra strength during the
support the tail feath-
backward and forward
ers and muscles—of
motions of running or jump-
great importance to the
ing. Since birds walk on
bird, since the tail acts
their toes, not on their feet,
as a rudder during
their toes are specially creat-
flight.
ed so as to bear the body in a
balanced way.