i 5 8 



BEGINNERS' ZOOLOGY 



like the leaves of trees, are delicate structures and lose 

 perfect condition with age. Hence the annual renewal 



I of the feathers is 



an advantage. Most 

 birds shed twice a 

 year, and with many 

 the summer plum- 

 age is brighter col- 

 oured than the win- 

 ter plumage. When 

 a feather is shed on 



one side, the corre- 

 sponding feather on 

 the other side is 



always shed with it. (What need for this ?) A large 



oil gland is easily found on the 



dorsal side of the tail. How does 



the bird apply the oil to the 



feathers ? 



- B 



Fig. 295. — Wing of Bird. 



/, false quills (on thumb); 2, primaries; 3, secondaries: 

 tertiaries (dar.k) are one above another at right; 

 a, b, coverts. 



A 



Fig. 296. 



A, point dividing primaries from second- 

 aries; B, coverts. 



In describing and classifying 

 birds, it is necessary to know the 

 names of the various external 

 regions of the body and plum- 

 age. These may be learned by 

 studying Figs. 295, 296, 297, 298 



Fig. 297. — Cedar Waxwing, 

 with regions of body marked. 



S, forehead; Sc, crown (with crest); 

 ////, nape; A", throat; Br, breast: 

 Ba, lower parts; R, back; Rt, tail; 

 B, tail coverts; P, shoulder feathers 

 (scapulars) ; T, wing coverts; HS, 

 primaries ; AS, secondaries; Al, 

 thumb feathers. 



The quills on the hand 



