WINGS AND TAIL. 







A bird that must fly a great deal needs wings which ara 

 properly cut to make swift and easy travel in the air pos- 

 sible. ( See cut No. 2.) Each 

 part of the bird that helps it 

 get on in the world will show 

 by its make-up what it is best fitted to do. 



The wings of flying animals move rapidly downward 

 and upward in the air, supporting the body by the re- 

 action of the air under their rapid strokes and at the 

 same time pushing it forward. The wings of birds are 

 not all of the same size, even though their bodies have 

 about the same weight, because their habits may be quite 

 different. The Heron has a 

 comparatively light body and 

 a very large wing surface. The 

 Quail has a heavy body and a 

 small wing surface. ( See cut 

 No. 1.) 



The flight of the Heron and Quail differ quite as much as 

 their wings. The Heron does not move the wing so rapid- 

 ly, and flies more slowly and gracefully than the Quail. 

 The Quail is a quick, rapid flyer for short distances, and 

 starts off with great speed. 



The Ostrich does not use its wings for flight, but merely 

 to assist it in running. The Penguin, a bird that lives in 

 the Southern seas, uses its wings as paddles for swim- 

 ming under the water, the feathers on its wing being 

 more like scales than ordinary feathers, and not at all 

 fitted for flight in air. 



The tail, too, which often takes an active part in a 

 (37) 



