The Weapons of Birds 



185 



Last and largest of the spur-winged birds are the South American 

 Screamers, Chauna and Anhima, and these not only have the longest, 

 strongest and sharpest spurs of all birds, but they have a second smaller 

 spur on the lower part of the metacarpus (Fig. 6). The large spur is 

 slightly flattened on the side next the body as well as gently curved, form- 

 ing a formidable-looking weapon about an inch and a quarter long and 

 seemingly capable of being driven quite through a man's hand by a wing- 

 stroke of so large a bird as the Screamer. And yet, according to Mr. 

 Hudson, this bird is preeminently a bird of peace and dwells in peace amid 

 large numbers of its fellows, so perhaps its arms are, as they should be, 

 merely a warning to would-be enemies and not a menace to its friends. 



r 



WHITE -TAILED PTARMIGAN IN WINTER PLUMAGE 

 Photographed from nature, by E. R.Warren, Crested Butte, Colorado 



