Page 150 - The Transitional Form Dilemma
P. 150

THE TRANSITIONAL-FORM DILEMMA





                    2. The structure of its feathers: One of the most important pieces
               of evidence that Archaeopteryx was able to fly is the bird’s feather struc-
               ture. Its asymmetrical feather structure, identical to that of modern-day
               birds, shows that it was capable of perfect flight. As stated by the well-
               known paleontologist Carl O. Dunbar, “because of its feathers
               [Archæopteryx is] distinctly to be classed as a bird.” 119
                    The paleontologist Robert Carroll offers this explanation on the
               subject:
                    The geometry of the flight feathers of Archæopteryx is identical with that of
                    modern flying birds, whereas nonflying birds have symmetrical feathers. The
                    way in which the feathers are arranged on the wing also falls within the range
                    of modern birds . . . According to Van Tyne and Berger, the relative size and
                    shape of the wing of Archæopteryx are similar to that of birds that move
                    through restricted openings in vegetation, such as gallinaceous birds, doves,
                    woodcocks, woodpeckers, and most passerine birds. . . . The flight feathers have
                    been in stasis for at least 150 million years. . . . 120


                    3. The claws on its wings and the teeth in its beak: Evolutionists
                            formerly considered the fact that Archaeopteryx had claws
                                   on its wings and teeth in its mouth as one of the
                                     major proofs that it was a transitional form. Yet
                                       these features do not demonstrate any rela-
                                       tionship between this animal and reptiles.
                                       Two modern-day species of bird, Touraco cory-
                                       thaix and Opisthocomus hoazin, also have claws
                                      that help them to cling onto branches. These
                                    animals are fully-fledged birds, with no reptil-
                                    ian features. The argument that Archaeopteryx
                                      must be a transitional form because it had
                                          claws is therefore invalid.
                                                  Neither do the teeth in
                             Hoatzin
                                               Archaeopteryx’s mouth make it a





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