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ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BIRDS. 



into two series : on one side it gradually diminishes, 

 through the raptores and the insessores ; and, on the 

 other, through the grallatores, until hoth these meet in 

 the order rasores, where the flight is reduced to its 

 minimum. We shall now describe such modifications 

 of the wing as influence these different degrees of 

 motion; considering these members as, 1. acuminated; 

 2. falcate ; 3. pointed, 4. rounded, 5. ample, 6. abbre- 

 viated or obsolete. In regard to their comparative extent, 

 a wing, however it may be otherwise constructed, is 

 termed long, when it extends beyond the middle of the 

 tail ; moderate when it reaches nearly, or to, that member ; 

 and short when it just extends to the base, and the pri- 

 mary quills are not much longer than the secondaries. 



(78.) I. Acuminated wings are those adapted for the 

 most rapid and long-continued flight. The most per- 

 fect examples of this form are seen in the oceanic 

 genera ; and the frigate pelicans may be instanced as 

 the most powerful flyers in the creation. But as few of 

 our readers are likely to see these birds, we may instance 

 the swallow as exhibiting a perfect example of an, acu- 

 minated wing (fig. 41.). The first quill is generally the 



longest, although it sometimes happens that there is 

 scarcely a perceptible difference between that and the 

 second : the rest, however, gradually, but regularly, 

 diminish at almost equal intervals, until they reach the 

 lesser quills, which are little more than one third the 

 length of the exterior primaries, the whole of which are 

 very broad, but gradually taper at their extremities. 

 The lesser quills, on the contrary, are not only un- 

 usually short, but terminate so abruptly that they ap- 

 pear to have their ends cut off at that part ; however, 



