76 A MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY 



thumb. On the under part of the wing near the junction 

 with the body are the soft axillar feathers. Work the wing 

 back and forth and note the way in which the feathers 

 overlap the large surface of the expanded wing and its 

 compactness when folded. Prom the inside the toes are 

 numbered as first, second, third, and fourth. The first 

 opposing the other three. How many joints are there in 

 each one? A sparrow when standing rests on its toes. 

 Its heel is at the joint between the scaly and the feathered 

 portions. The scaly part extends from the toes up to the 

 tarsus. The next section is the tibia and corresponds to 

 the leg In the higher forms, while the proximal section 

 corresponds to the thigh. Does the scale-covered foot 

 suggest a close relationship to such reptiles as the snake? 

 Does the beak suggest the beg,k of the turtle? Look up 

 the meaning of the word sauropsida. Are all parts of the 

 foot covered with scales? Extend the limb at the heel 

 joint and notice the position the toes take. Now flex the 

 same joint and note the position they take. Could the 

 bird fly from the place- upon which it was perched when 

 this joint was flexed? How does it sleep on its perch 

 without falling ofE? Make a drawing of the side view of 

 the bird naming all the parts indicated. 



Examine one of the large feathers. The tubular por- 

 tion inserted in the skin is the quill. The long, four-sided 

 part distal to this is the rachis. On the other side of this 

 is the Vein or web. The vein is composed of filament-like 

 barbs lying close together side by side. On the sides of 

 the barbs are the barbules. Pull oft a few barbs and soak 

 them in 95 per cent alcohol, and then examine them under 

 the low power. On the under side of the rachis note a nar- 

 row groove running lengthwise. With a pin follow it towards 

 the proximal end until you come to a little hole leading 

 into the quill. This is the umbilicus. In the end of the 

 quill you will find an opening. What is the use of this? 



Pluck a feather from the back or breast and note the 

 peculiar difference between it and a large feather. Exam- 

 ine the rictal bristles under the low power. Examine 

 a hair from your head. What is your conclusion as to 

 the rictal bristles? Beneath the body feathers you will 

 find downy filament-like feathers. Look at these under 



