ON THE NUMBER OF FEATHERS IN THE WING AND TAIL
In all hawks, whether long-winged or short, seven flight-feathers, by
God’s creation, show from under the coverts called _yār-māliq_,[770]
while in the tail there are in all twelve feathers. Very, very rarely,
indeed, are eight flight-feathers apparent under the _yār-māliq_; but
occasionally fourteen or even sixteen feathers occur in the tail.
Birds with the latter number are in no way better than birds with the
normal twelve.
FOOTNOTES:
[770] _Vide_ note 474, page 112.