Fig. 61.—Right wing of the Kestrel, drawn from the specimen, while being held against the light. Shows how the primary (b), secondary (a), and tertiary (c) feathers overlap and buttress or support each other in every direction. Each set of feathers has its coverts and subcoverts, the wing being conical from within outwards, and from before backwards. d, e, f Anterior or thick margin of wing. b, a, c Posterior or thin margin. The wing of the kestrel is intermediate as regards form, it being neither rounded as in the partridge (fig. [96], p. 176), nor ribbon-shaped as in the albatross (fig. 62), nor pointed as in the swallow. The feathers of the kestrel’s wing are unusually symmetrical and strong. Compare with figs. [92], 94, and 96, pp. 174, 175, and 176.—Original.
All wings are constructed upon a common type. They are in every instance carefully graduated, the wing tapering from the root towards the tip, and from the anterior margin in the direction of the posterior margin. They are of a generally triangular form, and twisted upon themselves in the direction of their length, to form a helix or screw. They are convex above and concave below, and more or less flexible and elastic throughout, the elasticity being greatest at the tip and along the posterior margin. They are also moveable in all their parts. Figs. 61, 62, 63 (p. 138), [59] and [60] (p. 126), [96] and 97 (p. 176), represent typical bird wings; figs. [17] (p. 36), [94] and 95 (p. 175), typical bat wings; and figs. [57] and 58 (p. 125), [89] and 90 (p. 171), 91 (p. 172), [92] and 93 (p. 174), typical insect wings.
In all the wings which I have examined, whether in the insect, bat, or bird, the wing is recovered, flexed, or drawn towards the body by the action of elastic ligaments, these structures, by their mere contraction, causing the wing, when fully extended and presenting its maximum of surface, to resume its position of rest and plane of least resistance. The principal effort required in flight is, therefore, made during extension, and at the beginning of the down stroke. The elastic ligaments are variously formed, and the amount of contraction which they undergo is in all cases accurately adapted to the size and form of the wing, and the rapidity with which it is worked; the contraction being greatest in the short-winged and heavy-bodied insects and birds, and least in the light-bodied and ample-winged ones, particularly such as skim or glide. The mechanical action of the elastic ligaments, I need scarcely remark, insures an additional period of repose to the wing at each stroke; and this is a point of some importance, as showing that the lengthened and laborious flights of insects and birds are not without their stated intervals of rest.
Fig. 62.—Left wing of the albatross. d, e, f Anterior or thick margin of pinion. b, a, c Posterior or thin margin, composed of the primary (b), secondary (a), and tertiary (c) feathers. In this wing the first primary is the longest, the primary coverts and subcoverts being unusually long and strong. The secondary coverts and subcoverts occupy the body of the wing (e, d), and are so numerous as effectually to prevent any escape of air between them during the return or up stroke. This wing, which I have in my possession, measures over six feet in length.—Original.
All wings are furnished at their roots with some form of universal joint which enables them to move not only in an upward, downward, forward, or backward direction, but also at various intermediate degrees of obliquity. All wings obtain their leverage by presenting oblique surfaces to the air, the degree of obliquity gradually increasing in a direction from behind forwards and downwards during extension and the down stroke, and gradually decreasing in an opposite direction during flexion and the up stroke.
