WING. 555 
the 'phalanges of the fingers ; d corresponds with the metacarpus-^ 
having two small bones attached to it ; at c c, for the carpus ; f con- 
sists of two bones, similar to those of the fore-arm, the smaller is called 
the ulna^ the larger the radius ; g is the os humerus. From a and h 
of i\\Q phalanges, and from the metacarpal iomt c, arise the greater or 
primary quill-feathers, usually consisting of ten or twelve. From the 
fore-arm J ' spring the lesser or secondary quills, which cover the pri- 
maries when the wing is closed, consisting of twelve or fourteen feathers, 
according to the length of the wing. 
The os humerus g, bears what are called the tertials at the outer 
extremity, and at the other end is articulated into the scapula, and 
usually concealed by the scapular feathers ; h, is the alula spuria, from 
whence those feathers arise which constitute the spurious wing ; this 
part answers to the thumb in the human hand, and in the wild 
swan {Cygnus ferus^ is furnished with a corneous claw, as repre- 
sented at h. 
Many ridiculous stories have been told of the great strength a swan 
possesses in his wings, and how dangerous it is to approach the nest of 
this bird, for a blow from its wing has been known to fracture a man’s 
thigh. It is high time such absurdities should be erased in this philo- 
sophical age, and that the mind of man should reason before he con- 
