OUR HOME BIRDS. 
21 
‘ secondaries/ These vary in number, shape, or 
size: in some birds they are very prominent and 
distinct, while in others there appears to be no 
difference between the last 'primary’ and the first 
* secondary.’ 
“ There is still another set of feathers called ' ter- 
tiaries,’ which spring from that part of the wing 
between the elbow and the shoulder. These vary 
very much in different kinds of birds. They are 
much shorter than the 'primaries,’ and are often 
merged into the little feathers that cover the out- 
side of the wing. Sometimes they are so long that 
they alter the whole shape of the wing ; and in the 
cranes, tall as they are, they make long, drooping 
plumes, almost reaching the ground. 
" What should be the thumb of a bird has a little 
wing to itself called the winglet. The wing itself 
appears small compared with the spread of the 
feathers when the bird is flying ; but when the wing 
is extended, a strong, elastic fold of skin is seen tp 
stretch itself along each division of the wing, and to 
support the quills which run through it, just as pins 
run through the folds of the papers on which they 
are ranged for sale.” 
Miss Harson had a row of pins all ready for the 
children to examine, and they showed by their re- 
marks that they were getting a very good idea of 
