This is the skeleton of a sea bird found around the coasts of western and northern Europe. Examine the following: the rib cage and sternum (breast bone area) where the major flight muscles attach, the furcula (wish-bone), the form of the wing bones (try to identify the humerus, ulna and radius, and fused finger bones), the pygostyle (fused bones at the base of the tail), the short femur, the openings in the skull – note how the diapsid skull has been modified through the loss of some of the struts.

While you are here, look at the skeleton of Archaeopteryx, and those of extant birds, in the cases. Try to identify some of the features listed above while looking at these specimens.