EXTEKN.U, FEATURES OF BIKDS. 



oi>( 



L 



and .strong fliglit, and tlicir tlicrchy supposed liigli degree of irritability ; but 

 by keeping tiiem in captivity we find at once that tlie birds of prey are dull 

 birds, and that tliey, as regards irritability, are far beliiud the Passeres. 

 They remain for a long time silent and quiet, and do not generally show 

 any activity unless they are frightened or driven by appetite for food. The 

 passerine birds, on the contrary, are, in captivity, constantly in motion, and 

 let us incessantly hear their lively song and affectionate voices." 



In order that tlie descrii)tions of birds given in these pages may be well 

 understood, we present an illustration and brief account of the different parts 

 of their external anatomy. 



A represents tlie primary quills, usual- 

 ly called primaries. 



B represents the secondary quills, 

 usually called secondaries. 



C spurious wing. 



D winj; coverts. 



E tertiary quills, usually called ter- rj 

 tiaries. 



F represents the throat. N 



G is the upper part of the throat, ea 

 juguluiu. 



H is the hill or beak. This is divided 

 into two parts, called the upper 

 and lower mandihles. 



I is the frons, or forehead. Feathers " 

 at this point are called frontal 

 feathers. 



J is the crown. Feathers here .are 

 called coronal feathers, and oc- 

 cipital.. 



K represents the scapul.ar feathers. 



L is the back. Feathers here are 

 sometimes called interscapular. 



M represents the tarsus ; sometimes called shank or leg. 



N is the abdomen. 



O is tlie rump. 



P shows the upper tail coverts. 



Q indicates the position of the lower tail coverts. 



R shows on the bill the culmen, or crown, of the upper mandible. 



S is the naked skin at the base of the bill, called the cere. 



T shows the position of the lores between the eye and bill. 



U indicates tlie gape, the angle at the junction of tlie upper and 

 lower mandibles; the feathers in this locality are called rictal. 



V is the commissure, or the folding edges of the mandibles. 



In addition to these parts, there are the ffank.s, or sides of the bird; the 

 pectus, or breast; the flexure, or bend of the wing; the iris, or irides, the 

 colored circle which surrounds the pupil of the eye ; and the toes and tibia. 

 The former are sometimes palmated, as with the swimmers, or natatores ; 

 and the latter is that portion next above the tarsus, on the leg. 



