The architecture of birds / [Anon].

  • James Rennie
Date:
[1831]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The architecture of birds / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Why have birds more varied motion in the neck than quadrupeds ? Because in birds the neck has a greater number of bones, and consequently of joints: the contriv- ance by which the spine of animals is rendered susceptible of varied motion, being by means of a strong chain of bones, (vertebrae) locked together by means of knobs and projections, to prevent dis- location, a chain which stretches from the head to the extremity of the tail. Except in the three-toed sloth, indeed, the bones in the neck of quadrupeds and of man are uniformly seven in number ; the short-necked mole having the same as the long- necked giraffe ; in birds, the number is never less than nine, and varies from that to twenty-four. — Rennie. Why do birds sing ? - Because of the receptacles of air already men- tioned; but particularly by the disposition of the larynx, which in birds is not, as in mammifera and , amphibia, placed wholly at the upper end of the witdpipe; but, as it were, separated into two parts, one placed at each extremity. Parrots, ravens, starlings, bullfinches, &c, have been taught to imitate the human voice, and to speak some words: singing birds also, in captivity, readily adopt the song of others, learn tunes, and can even be made to sing in company, so that it has been possible actually to give a little concert by several bull- finches. In general, however, the song of birds in the wild’state, appears to be formed by practice and imitation. — Blumenbach. Why cannot birds be so correctly said to sing as to whistle ? Pi Because natural singing is an exclusive privilege of man.— Blumenbach. © Why do the notes of different species of birds vary ? Because, probably, of the structure ofthe organs of each species enabling them more easily to produce -
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