An analysis of muscle weight variations in the wing and leg of Sturnus vulgaris

Dry weights of 18 wing and 23 leg muscles from both sides of 15 adult male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were determined. By means of factor analysis it is calculated which part of the variance in a muscle's weight can be accounted for by common factors and which part by the characteristics of the muscle itself (residual variance). Wing and leg muscles are analysed separately.