Mr W. Macgillivray on ttie Covering of Birds. 129 



Middle dorsal^ on the middle part of the back. 



Posterior dorsal^ on the part of the back nearest the tail. 



Pec T ORAL, on the Breast. 

 Anterior pectoral^ on the fore-part of the breast. 

 Middle pectoral^ on the middle-part of the breast. 

 Posterior pectoral^ on the part of the breast next the belly. 

 Lateral pectoral^ on the sides of the breast. 



Abdominal, on the Belly. 

 These may be divided according to their relative situation ; but this is 

 scarcely necessary. 



Hypochondrial, on the sides of the Body under the Wings. 

 The same remark applies to these as to the abdominal. 



Alar, on the Wings. 



Upper Alar, on the upper part or dorsal aspect of the wings. 



Under or Lower Alar, on the under part or sternal aspect of the wings. 



These feathers are usually termed wing coverts. The name is absurd, 

 because all feathers are coverts, and the cervical or dorsal feathers 

 mightas well be called neck coverts and back coverts. 



Alar Quills, feathers growing from the posterior edge of the wing. These 

 are best defined according to their connection with the bones of the 

 wing. 



Primary Quills, the first ten, counting from the outer end of the wing, situ- 

 ated upon the digital and carpal bones. 



Secondary Quills, those situated upon the brachial bones. 



Tertiary Quills, those situated along the humeral bone. 



Quill Coverts, a row of feathers immediately covering the base of the quills. 

 They approach in compactness and strength to the quills, and may, 

 therefore, with propriety be distinguished from the other wing feathers. 



Primary, secondary and tertiary Quill Coverts, according to the rank of the 

 quills over which they lie. 



Upper and Under Coverts, on the dorsal and sternal aspect of the wing. 



Scapulars, a bunch of long feathers, situated at the proximal extremity of 

 the OS humeri on the back. 



Axillary feathers, a bunch of long straight feathers, situated at the proximal 

 extremity of the humerus, under the wing. 



ON THE LEGS. 

 TilAdl, feathers covering the tibia, or what in ordinary language is called the 



thigh. 

 Tarsal, covering the tarsus. 

 Digital, covering the toes. 



Caudal, on the Tail. 

 Caudal feathers or rather Quills, feathers terminating the body behind. 

 Caudal Quill Coverts, upper and lower, feathers covering the caudal quills at 

 their base, above and beneath. 

 OCTOBER DECEMBEH 1827. I 



