402 THE LIFE OF A BTKD. 



largest quill-feathers are called the " primaries,"(5) 

 the next the "secondaries, "(6) and the third the 

 " tertiaries." Those feathers which grow from that 

 part of a bird's body which represents the position 

 of the thumb in man, form what is denominated the 

 "bastard wings. "(7) The diagram will render this 

 the more distinct. The tail must not be forgotten. 



Whilst feathers are the universal characteristic of 

 birds, it is curious that now and then cases occur, in 

 which birds are apparently accidentally deprived 

 of this beautiful and necessary covering. Dr. Stan- 

 ley says, in reference to this subject, "A feather- 

 less canary bird was once actually reared, and 

 lived in good health for upwards of three years. 

 In this case the featherless state of the bird was 

 accidental ; but the fact of a bird's being able to 

 exist without this, its natural clothing, is proved by 

 a most cruel and barbarous custom, which cannot be 

 too strongly reprobated, practised in some parts of 

 England, where extensive flocks of geese are bred 

 and reared, mainly for the value of their feathers." 



It is not possible within the narrow limits of 

 this little work to enter so carefully into the 

 general anatomical and physiological peculiarities 

 of birds in any part of their structure as we might 



