LECTURE V. 151 



the Cassowary, all the Penguins, and some other 

 birds. The feathers with which birds are covered 

 are analogous in their nature to the hair of Qua- 

 drupeds, being composed of a similar substance 

 appearing in a dissimilar form. Beneath or under 

 the common feathers or general plumage, the 

 skin in birds is immediatelj'- covered with a much 

 finer or softer feathery substance called down. 

 The external or common feathers are called by 

 different names on different parts of the animal. 

 The longest of the wing-feathers, which are ge- 

 nerally ten in number, in each wang, are called 

 the first or great quills, (in the Linncean phrase 

 remiges primcres, as being the chief oars or guid- 

 ers as it were.) The feathers constituting the 

 middle part of the wing are called the secondaries 

 or second quills (remiges secondarii of Linnteus,) 

 and are more numerous than the first ; the fea- 

 thers descending along each side the back are 

 called the scapular feathers : the small feathers' 

 covering the shoulders are called the smaller v.dng- 

 coverts, (tectrices minores :) the next series to 

 these are called the larger wing-coverts, (tectrices 

 secondariae or majores,) and at the edge of the 

 shoulder are a few rather strong and slightly 



