AVES 



599 



External Structure 



The body of the gamecock, the Leghorn, and the Bantam is quite 

 spindle-shaped and graceful, while that of the Plymouth Rock or 

 Rhode Island Red is stocky and almost awkward. The body is 

 divided into three general divisions: head, neck, and trunk. The 



t-VAtsJE 



-SHAFT 



-QUI LU 



SHAFX 

 BAR B 



Atsl-TERIOR 



barbui-e: 

 - posterior 



BARBUU E 

 --HOOK1_ETS 



Fig. 318. — A, flight feather showing general features ; B, details of a portion of a 



feather. 



head is prolonged at the mouth region by the pointed heak, whose 

 horny covering is derived from the skin and is true horny material. 

 At the base of the beak there is a small fleshy structure which has a 

 naked, waxy appearance. This structure is known as the cere. In 

 the birds of flight, this is larger and serves as a shield to keep the 

 air from blowing directly into the slitlike nostrils and interfering 

 with breathing. One relatively large eye is located on either side 



m 



