XXX 



TAILS AND WINGS AS NUPTIAL LIVERY 



THE ends of birds, like their limbs (wings and legs), 

 are strangely modified ; the variations of the tails of 

 some birds which flourish in Eastern Ethiopia are worthy 

 of consideration. 



The quill feathers of a bird's tail are called rectrices, 

 or steering feathers, on account of their action in 

 directing flight. The quills of these feathers are 

 crowded on a narrow base, which causes them to present 

 a fan-shaped arrangement. The normal number of 

 rectrices is six pairs ; a few birds have ten or eleven ; 

 several nine, eight or seven pairs ; and many five pairs. 

 The reduction in number is brought about by the 

 atrophy or disappearance of the outer pair or pairs. 

 The number of rectrices differs among birds of closely 

 allied species, and even in the cock and hen of the same 

 species. For example, the peacock is furnished with ten 

 and the peahen with nine pairs. The variation in the 

 shape of the tail feathers is very great and is a fact well 

 recognised. 



The profusion of bird life along the Nile Valley and 

 around the lakes of Central Africa is wonderful, and so 

 is its variety. Some of the biggest birds living on the 

 earth to-day may be seen here. Ostriches, bustards, 

 storks, cranes, secretary birds, eagles, vultures, herons, 

 and pelicans. Size always impresses. Many of the 

 smaller birds, such as bee-eaters, rollers, ibis, sun- 



