BIRDS. xxm 



Wing Coverts (TeetricesJ lesser or greater. The first are those which lie on the bones 

 of the wings ; the greater beneath the others, falling over the quills. 



Quills fRemigesJ may be divided into three series ; the first or principal CprimoresJ ; 

 the secondaries (secundaria) • and tertials (tertiales) ; the last, in Water Fowl, are generally 

 longer than the secondaries, and cuneiform. 



Bastaed ■^^'^ING (Alula spuria) situated outwardly, at the base of the greater quills, 

 and generally consists of four or five small feathers, in shape like a small wing, whence the 

 name. 



Scapulars (Scapulares) these take rise from the large wing bone, and fall over the base 

 of tlie wings on eacli side above, between the body and wing when folded up. 



Wing Spot, or Speculum, so called, is a bright part of the wing, sometimes beauti- 

 fully coloured, and very glossy, appearing generally as a patch on the greater wing coverts, 

 when folded up, chiefly conspicuous in the Duck Genus. 



5. TAIL (Cauda), this is composed of long feathers, more or less stiff, differing in 

 number, and taking rise from the rump. 



Tail Feathers (Rectrices) are for the most part twelve, and are generally described 

 thus (12 3456 G54321), meaning, that 1 1 are the two outer, and 6 the two middle 

 feathers. Some birds, however, have as far as 18 or 20, as in the Gallinaceous and Duck 

 Tribe, and several of the Pies no more than ten. The tail varies much in shape and length ; 

 it may be called short, when shorter than the legs ; and long, when it reaches beyond them ; 

 even, when the feathers are of equal lengths ; cuneiform, when they become shorter as they 

 are more outward ; and forked, when the side feathers grow gradually longer than the two 

 middle ones. 



Tail Coverts (Tectrices Cauda) cover the base of the tail above and beneath, falling 

 over and concealing the insertion of the tail feathers. 



6. LEGS (Crura). These consist of the thighs, shins, toes, and claws. 



Thighs (Femora) are fleshy, covered with feathers for the most part, but in the Wade'rs 

 and some others, are bare for some part of their length; these are generally situated in the 

 middle, to support the equilibrium of the body, and appear outwardly, except in the Awk, 

 Grebe, Diver, and Penguin, in which the thighs do not appear externally, and the legs, of 

 course, are detained backwards. Hence the bird may be called fettered, and from this cause 

 experiences great difficidty in walking, and that only in an upright posture, or nearly so. 



Bracelets (ArmillcB), are coloured circles, at the lower part of the thighs, just above the 

 joint, as in the Coot; in some double or treble. 



Shins (Crura), are slender, narrow, and tendinous ; in some downy, or covered with short 

 feathers ; in others furnished with a spur at the back part ; chiefly in the males. 



Toes [Digiti). These varj' in number and disposition. 



* Four in Number, but differently placed. 



1. Made for Walking (Ambulatorii), having three toes forward, disunited or separated 

 to the base, and one behind. 



