. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative. PTERODACTYLE.—WINGS OF INSECTS. 509 This is accomplished by the enormous extension of the bones of the hand, especially the metacarpal inc, Avhich are liere separate; and the membrane is further sustained by the legs and tail. The thumb po is not included in the wing, but serves as a hook by which the animal can suspend itself.— The only true flying Eeptile is (or rather was) the Pterodac- tyle, a kind of winged lizard, which does not now exist, but of whose character the skeletons that are found imbedded in the earth afford most convincing proof.
. Animal physiology. Physiology, Comparative. PTERODACTYLE.—WINGS OF INSECTS. 509 This is accomplished by the enormous extension of the bones of the hand, especially the metacarpal inc, Avhich are liere separate; and the membrane is further sustained by the legs and tail. The thumb po is not included in the wing, but serves as a hook by which the animal can suspend itself.— The only true flying Eeptile is (or rather was) the Pterodac- tyle, a kind of winged lizard, which does not now exist, but of whose character the skeletons that are found imbedded in the earth afford most convincing proof. The structure of its wing differed from that of either Birds or Bats ; for it appears, from the conformation of its anterior member (fig. 252), that the animal could have used it for resting or walking, the framew^ork of the wing being formed by the enormous elonga- tion of one finger onlv-. Fig. —Dragon Fly. 670. The wings of Insects (fig. 253) have no correspon- dence whatever with those of Vertebrata, except in serving for the like use, and in being composed of an expanded sur- face of membrane, stretched upon a firm framework. This framework is not composed of soHd pieces jointed together, but is merely an extension of the air-tubes and vessels within the body, which are strengthened by a continuation of its hard envelope. Their only action is a hinge-like movement at the point where they are united to the body ; and this is accomplished by powerful muscles contained within the thorax. 671. In all instances, the action of the wings must be such, that the air is struck with less force duaing the up-stroke than. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Carpenter, William Benjamin, 1813-1885. London : H. G. Bohn
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Keywords: ., bookauthorcarpente, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1859
