
<s>by ossific matter, so as to form one continuous bone. <\s> Although, from what is stated, it will be seen that free lateral motion exists in the dorsal or lumbar portions of the spine of birds, it is evident that motion in an antero-posterior direction would be incompatible with flight; and there are no birds in which such motion exists, unless with the exception of the “nicht fliegenden Vogeln”, as Tiedman has called them, the ostrich, and the cassowary. In these birds, there is another point in which the skeleton differs from that of birds of flight; the pubic bones are united, as in the mammalia, affording stability and firmness to the pelvis, so necessary in running. There are beautiful contrivances to prevent motion in an antero-posterior, whilst they readily admit it in a lateral direction. The spinous processes of the vertebrae, which project at right angles from the bodies of the vertebrae, <s>and<\s> are situated exactly in a line with each other, having but a very small space between each. And in many cases, there are thin long flat bones, which are placed with their flat surfaces applied to each side of the spinous processes, preventing motion in a backward direction. These flat bones serve the pur- pose of tendons, as the muscular fibres are attached to them
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Manuscript details
- Author
- George Oakley Fleming
- Reference
- AP/28/6
- Series
- AP
- Date
- 1846
- IIIF
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Cite as
On Motion in the lumbar division of the spine of birds, by George Oakley Fleming , 1846. From The Royal Society, AP/28/6
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