Re: Furculae

["Matthew Troutman" <m_troutman@hotmail.com>]

<<Sorry to sound a bit contradictory, but the falconiform (kestrel 
-presumably one) furcula I have in my hand at this very moment has a 
thin flat cross-section over most of its length, except at the midline 
(the stress concentration area) where the dimension ratio of its x-sect 
approaches 1.5:1 .  Also, I would have thought that a rounded cross 
section would give less flexibility, not the other way round.>>

 Remember falconiforms are among the groups with no "spring" because 
their furculae are boomerang shaped, too robust, or are flat in most of 
the cross-section.  The flat cross-section will make the furcula 
immobile because it allows no flexibility due to its design.  

Matt Troutman



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