4 
feathers; these, however, disappear later, except in some birds, where @ 
few remain over the hinder part, or calf, of the leg.* ie 
3.—Wing-Quills or Remages; Whites and. Feminas.—The wing-quills 
are the largest feathers in the wing, and are arranged in a single TOW - 
They include the ‘“ Whites’’ in the cock, and the “Feminas in the 
hen, as well as the ‘‘ Byocks’’ ot ‘‘Fancies’’ in the cock. The first 
wing-quills are attached to those bones of the wing which correspond with 
the first two fingers and palm of the human hand, and are known as 
Primaries; the next are attached to the forearm, or ulna, and are known 
as Secondaries. The wing-quills number about 35 on each wing, some- 
times one or two more, or one or two less. 
4.—Spadonas.—The first crop of wing-quills, grown by the chick, 
are known as ‘‘spadonas.’’ They are much smaller, spear-shaped, and 
less valuable than the later wing-quills. The spadona is ripe when the 
chick is about six months old, the quill at about eight months. 
5.—Byocks or Fancies.—These are the few wing-quills towards each 
end of the row, and come from the cock. They are a parti-colour of 
black and white, while all the other wing-quills are white. 
6.—U pper Wing-Coverts; Blacks and Drabs.—The feathers above the 
wing-quills are also arranged in rows, and cover the lower part of the 
wing-quills, hence their name of coverts. They are the “ Blacks” of the 
cock, and the “‘ Drabs’’ of the hen. The feathers of the first row are 
the major wing-coverts, or “long-blacks”’ or “ long-drabs” according as 
the bird is a cock or a hen; those of the second row are the median 
wing-coverts, or “medium blacks” or “medium drabs”; those of the 
third row are the minor wing-coverts, and are never taken in plucking. 
The blacks or drabs from the upper arm are attached to the arm-bone or 
humerus, and are known as /fwmera/s; along with the shorter black or 
drab coverts they constitute the “short-blacks or “short-drabs.” They 
are not always plucked. 
7.—Lower Wing-Coverts; Floss—A single row of feathers covers the 
wing-quills below. They are known as the lower wing-coverts, or collec- 
tively as “floss,” and are best seen when the wing is raised. Though 
long, they are very light and fluffy, and are not always plucked, but left 
for warmth and _ protection to the body when the other feathers are 
removed. The feathers from the under side of the arm-bone are some 
times included among the floss. 
8.—Tail-Quills or Rectrices; Tails.—The stumpy tail is covered by 
a number of feathers which are larger and differently coloured from the 
body-feathers, but are smaller than the wing-quills. They are the tai/- 
quills or rectrices, and constitute the “tails” of the farmer. The outer 
ones above are partly black and partly brown, and are known as “ Tails, 
Black Butts” (B.B.). From 80 to 100 tail feathers are clipped or plucked 
for trade purposes. 
9.—Short Stuff.—This is a collective term sometimes employed to in- 
clude the wing-coverts, floss, and tail-quills as distinct from the wing- 
quills, which are then termed “ long-stuff.” 
“The parts of the leg in all birds are differently arranged from those in ourselves. and 
should be understood by ostrich farmers. The bird walks only upon its toes, and the part 
corresponding with the sole of the human foot is raised from the ground, and known as 
the tarsus or shank. It is drawn out to such a length that the ankle of the bird seems to 
correspond with our knee, though it bends in the opposite direction. that is, backwards 
instead of forwards. When an ostrich crouches halfway its toes and tarsus are on the 
ground, and the whole length then corresponds with the human foot. The knee of the 
bird is close against the body and bends forwards, and the part of the leg between the 
ankle and knee looks as if it corresponded with our thigh. But the true thigh of the bird 
is rather short, and is buried in the side of the body, and scarcely appears as a part of the 
leg. 
