36 Ornithology. 



small bones attached to it, at e, for the carpus ; f consists 

 of two bones similar to those of the fore arm, the smaller is 

 called the ulna, the larger the radius ; g is the os humerus. 

 From a and b of the phalanges, and from the metacarpal joint 

 c, arise the greater or primary quill feathers, usually consist- 

 ing of ten or twelve. From the fore arm/ spring the lesser 

 or secondary quills, which cover the primaries when the 

 wing is closed, consisting of twelve or fourteen feathers, ac- 

 cording to the length of the wing. 



The OS humerus g bears what are called the tertials at 

 the outer extremity, and at the other end is articulated into 

 the scapula, and usually concealed by the scapular feathers ; 

 h is the alula spuria, from whence those feathers arise which 

 constitute the spurious wing ; this part answers to the thumb 

 in the human hand, and in the wild swan [Cygnusferus) it is 

 furnished with a corneous claw, as represented at h. 



Many ridiculous stories have been told of the great strength 

 a swan possesses in his wings, and how dangerous it is to ap- 

 proach the nest of this bird, for a blow from its wing has been 

 known to fracture a man's thiorh. It is hii^fh time such absur- 

 dities should be erased in this philosophical age, and that the 

 mind of man should reason before he continues to relate such 

 accounts, only calculated to frighten children. Let the bones 

 of the wing be examined, and compared with that of the 

 thigh of a man, or even of his arm, (for it is well known the 

 size and strength of muscles are in proportion to the size of 

 the bone,) and it would be as impossible for a swan to break 

 a man's arm, as it would be to break his head with a reed. 

 The bone of a man's arm would bear a weight or pressure 

 fifty times as great as the bone of a swan's wing ; how then 

 is the inferior in size and strength to break the superior with- 

 out at least being itself fractured ? 



The pectoral muscles of all birds are proportionally strong- 

 er than the same muscles in the human frame, weight for 

 weight ; but their bones, on account of their necessary levity, 

 are thin, tubular, and consequently brittle, and ill calculated 

 for partial concussion, though admirably suited for general 

 and equal pressure against the yielding atmosphere. It 

 should also be recollected, that a bird is incapable of strik- 

 ing with any degree of force while all his quill feathers are 

 perfect, the resistance of the air against such a surface being 

 too great to allow of its moving with sufficient velocity to in- 

 flict any sensible pain : to give the greatest impetus, the fea- 

 thers should be cut short, as in the game cock trimmed for 



