BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 



The Speculum. A term used to iudicate a patch or baud ou the wiug (usually of 

 differeut color from the rest of the feathers), formed by the termiual portiou 

 of the secondaries, very noticeable iu the Ducks. (See illustration. Topography 

 of a Duck, page 8.) 



Under Primary ^Coverts 

 Ohdor Wing Coverts 



Jarput "T ^ 



Primaries 



-Axillars or Axillary Plvmea 



Under Surface of Wing. 



The Axillary Plumes, or Axillars, are an important aid in the identification of 

 many species ; these are several rather elongated feathers growing from the arm- 

 pit (axilla) , at the junction of the wing and body. 



THE TAIL. 



The Rectices, or Tail Feathers, proper, number from 8 to 24, and in some very few 

 cases even more. By far tlie greater number of birds, however, have 12 rectices. 



Trtmcate or square tail 



Pointed or cuneate tail Forked tail 



Oraduated tail 



The small feathers overlapping the rectices are called upper tail coverts, while 

 those below are the under tail coverts or crissum. (For illustration of tail 

 coverts and crissum, see Topography of a Bird.) 



