608 MUSCULAR SYSTEM 



inserted on the patagium and the last cubital quills, the other 

 splits off from the posterior portion of the latissimus dorsi and acts 

 indirectly on the patagium by joining the m. anconazus longus. 



M. expansor secundariorum or of the cubital quills, arises as a long 

 tendon from the sterno-scapular ligament, passes the axilla, often 

 by a fibrous pulley, accompanies the axillary vessels and nerves 

 along the humerus, and is inserted by a few fleshy fibres on the 

 base of the last two or three cubital quills. It is, however, more 

 complicated in many birds, especially GdUinsR and Anseres ; but 

 it is scarcely of taxonomic value, being weak or absent in Golumbx, 

 absent in Sphenisddtc, Tubinares, Steganopodes, some Herodii, Alcidse, 

 some Accipitres, in Striges, Psittaci, CypsehmorpJue, Pici and Passeres. 



r. 

 Exp. sec, 



WING MUSCLES OP A GOOSE. 



Bi. m. biceps ; Elast. sec. vinculum elasticum and Exp. sec. m. expansor secundariorum ; Lig. 

 ligament ; Metapatag. metapatagium ; Pector. m. pectoralis ; Propatag. propatagium ; Pt. br. 

 and Pt. Ig. mm. propatagialis brevis and longus ; Tri. m. triceps. 



M. flexor digitorum sublimis, arising fleshy from the inner face of 

 the long subcutaneous elastic band that extends from the inner con- 

 dyle of the humerus along the ventral surface of the ulna to the ulnar 

 carpal, over which the tendon runs and is inserted on the radial 

 anterior side of the first phalanx of the second digit. Owing to 

 the elasticity of the humero-carpal band the wing remains closed 

 without any special muscular exertion, while, when the wing is 

 extended, this band assists considerably in keeping it taut. 1 



M. AMBIENS (page 11), long and spindle-shaped, lying immedi- 

 ately beneath the skin as the most median or internal of all the 



1 From its position immediately under the skin, tliis band may be easily cut, 

 and though that operation would cause a drooping of the wing, it would suffi- 

 ciently hinder its being firmly extended, and thus would be the neatest substitute 

 for the clumsy and barbaric method commonly employed for pinioning Birds. 

 The power of flight is more effectively destroyed if one wing only be operated 

 upon than if both are treated. 



