INTRODUCTION. 



THE WING. 



As ail aid to idcntilication, tlu' wing- characters are most important. The terms 

 primaries, secondaries, axillars, wing coverts, etc., are constantly used in 

 describing birds, and Ihe student should learn to I'ecognize them at a glance. 

 The Remiges are the tlight Carpria 



feathers of the wing, ]j^j(2. f^^^'^a 



and Ihe Tectrices are 

 tlie small feathers cov- 

 ering the upper part of 

 the wing or shoulder 

 (see illustration), and 

 are usually called cov- 

 erts. The Remiges 

 are divided into pri = 

 maries, secondaries, 

 and tertials, accord- 

 ing to the location in 

 the Aving. 

 The Primaries are the 

 leathers growing from 

 the outer section of the 



wing ; that is to say, from the outer beud of the wing (carpus) to tip, C to D, the 

 M I Mnl)er ranging from il to 10 (and rarely 11) in various families. At first, it is 



not always easy to distinguish tiie last 

 priniaiy from the first secondary ; but 

 experience is the best teacher, and tlie 

 pt)int can always be settled by t'xani- 

 ining the roots of the feathers. 

 The Secondaries are the remiges at- 

 tached to the nbia or forearm, 1> to C 

 (see illustration); they nunilter from 

 (i to 10 in tin- various families ; the 

 Ilunnuing-ltinl liaving the smallest 

 number, and tlie Alltatross m o ri- 

 than 10. 



The Tertials air the few remaining remiges which grow from tlu> Jnnufnis, A to I'.. 

 The Tectrices, or Wing Coverts, are small feathers covering the larger wing 

 feathers ; the I'ralhrrs lining the khI^k^ of the under surface of llu- wing are called 

 under wing coverts. 'I'he outer wing coverts are divided and described as 

 greater wing coverts, middle wing coverts, and lesser Nving coverts. 

 respectively. (See illustration.) 



