Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 



CTnder Primary ^ Coverts 

 Jfnder Wing CoverU 



Carpnt — f _- 



15 



AxiUart or Axillary Plumes 



Under Surface of Wing. 



The Speculum. A term used to indicate a patch or band on the 

 wing (usually of different color from the rest of the feathers), formed 

 by the terminal portion of the secondaries, very noticeable in the 

 Ducks. (See illustration, page 12.) 



The Axillary Plumes, or Axillars, are an important aid in the iden- 

 tification of many species; these are several rather elongated feathers 

 growing from the armpit {axilla), at the junction of the wing and 

 body. 



THE TAIL. 



The Rectices, or Tail Feathers, proper, number from 8 to 24, and 

 in some very few cases even more. By far the greater number of 

 birds, however, have 12 rectices. The small feathers overlapping 

 the rectices are called upper tail coverts, while those below are the 

 under tail coverts or crissum, although the latter term is often used 

 to include the region immediately about the vent. 



TrunccUe or sqxuari taH 



Pointed or cuneate tail 



Forked tail 



Oraduated tail 



