THE HUMMING BIRDS. 



299 



Ordinarily, there is a regular gradation in the size and shape from 

 the first to the tenth primary ; but sometimes this is not the case, the 



Fig. 21. — Wing of I'rochilus colubris, adult male. 



male of the common Ruby-throated Humming Bird {Trochilus colubris) 

 affording a conspicuous example. In this, the six innermost quills are 



Fig. 22. — Wine:; of Sphenoproctus pampa, to show exce.ssivcly thicken eil .shafts of three outer primaries. 



not only abruptly much smaller thau the others, but they are quite 

 differently shaped at their tips (see Fig. 21). 



Fk;. 23.— Wiut; o( Eupetomena macroura. 



Although the shafts of the primaries are always hard and strong, to 

 enable them to endure the rapid vil)rations to which they are subjected 

 during flight, they are not often conspicuous for their unusual thick- 



Fig. 24.— Wing of Aphantochroa cirrhochloris. 



ness. In some genera, however, they are thus extraordinarily devel- 

 oped, in Sphenoproctus and some species of Campy lopterus, for example, 

 appearing almost like a monstrosity or abnormal swelling, as shown 



Fig. 25. — Outer primary of a apecios of Campylopterus, showing thickened abaft. 



in (Figs. 22 and 25), which is accompanied by others (Figs. 23 and 24) 

 to show the gradual transition through which this excessive develop- 

 ment is reached. 



