556 
WING. 
tinues to relate such accounts, only calculated to frighten children. Let 
the bones of the wing of a swan be examined, and compared with that 
of the thigh of a man, or even of his arm, (for it is well known the 
size and strength of muscles are in proportion to the size of the bone,) 
and it will be evident, that it would be as impossible for a swan to break 
a man’s arm, as it would be to break his head with a reed. The 
bone of a man’s arm would bear a weight or pressure fifty times as 
great as the bone of a swan’s wing ; how then is the inferior in size and 
strength to break the superior without at least being itself fractured ? 
The pectoral muscles of all birds are proportionably stronger than 
the same muscles in the human frame, weight for weight ; but their 
bones, on account of their necessary levity, are thin, tabular, and con- 
sequently brittle, and ill calculated for partial concussion, though admi- 
rably suited for general and equal pressure against the yielding atmos- 
phere. It should also be recollected, that a bird is incapable of striking 
with any degree of force while all his quill feathers are perfect, the 
resistance of the air against such a surface being too great to allow of 
its moving with sufficient velocity to inflict any sensible pain : to give 
the greatest impetus, the feathers should be cut short, as in the game 
cock trimmed for fighting, the power of whose wings is greatly aug- 
mented by such a reduction of surface. 
When we have taken a swan by the wing, we felt no uneasiness for the 
safety of our own arms, but greatly alarmed for fear, lest in the struggle, 
we might break the wing of the swan ; and we are quite convinced that 
the face alone need be guarded against the pinion of any such bird. 
To those who may have a menagerie or a decoy, or wish to preserve 
the larger birds in confinement, it may be useful to know how to per- 
form amputation upon that part of the wing of a bird, which will effec- 
tually prevent its escape, in as expeditious a manner, and with as little 
pain and risk as possible. 
The usual method is that of cutting off a portion of the wing by a 
strong pair of scissors, or shears, and then, with a red-hot iron, searing 
the part, in order to stop the effusion of blood. The operation thus 
performed is tedious, painful, and not always attended with success ; 
for as the principal artery contracts upon cutting the flesh, we have 
seen the part grilled for ten minutes with a red-hot poker, without 
closing the mouth of the artery, and the bird die in consequence of the 
loss of blood. 
Supposing then, that only eight or nine of the greater quills are 
wanted to be taken off, which is sufficient for the duck tribe, the place 
for amputation is at ^. For short-winged birds, such as the pheasant 
and partridge, the operation is best performed at A*, for these birds can 
