HIS WINGS AND TAIL 111 
it will be well to remember that the long stiff 
quills are called remiges or “rowers.” These are 
firmly rooted in the flesh, and are the hardest 
to pull out. They are the most important to 
the safety of the bird. 
Birds have also another use for their wings. 
They are a strong weapon to defend themselves, 
or to fight others. A 
large bird can give a 
severe blow with his 
wing, and when pi- 
geons fight, it is said 
they hold up one wing 
to protect themselves 
while they strike at the 
enemy with the other. 
Sometimes wing's 
serve as musical instru- 
ments. W oodeocks 
make whistling sounds 
with their wings as they 
fly, and mourning doves 
softly murmuring ones. Ruffed grouse produce 
with theirs a rolling drum-like effect, and others 
rattle theirs like castanets. 
If wings are not used, they slowly get to be 
smaller and weaker, each generation having them 
more and more useless, till after a while they are 

Fig. 13. 
Tail of Ruffed Grouse. 
