82 love's meinie. 



briefly described as the strongest scymitar 

 that can be made of quill substance; flexible 

 within limits, and elastic at its edges — carried 

 by an elastic central shaft — twisted like a 

 windmill sail — striking with the flat, and 

 recovering with the edge. 



The secondary feathers are more rounded 

 at the ends, and frequently notched ; their 

 curvature is reversed to that of the primaries ; 

 they are arranged, when expanded, somewhat 

 in the shape of a shallow cup, with the hollow 

 of it downwards, holding the air therefore, and 

 aiding in all the pause and buoyancy of flight, 

 but little in the activity of it. Essentially they 

 are the brooding and covering feathers of the 

 wing ; exquisitely "beautiful — as far as I have 

 yet seen, most beautiful — in the bird whose 

 brooding is of most use to us ; and which has 

 become the image of all tenderness. " How 

 often would I have. gathered thy children . . . 

 and ye would not." 



74. Over these two chief masses of the 

 plume are set others w^hich partly complete 

 their power, partly adorn and protect them ; 

 but of these I can take no notice at present. 

 All that I want you to understand is the action 



