300 



On the Claws and Spurs of Birds' Wings. 



XXXIV. — On the Claios and Spurs of Birds' Wings. 

 By P. L. ScLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. 



[Continued from p. 151.] 



3. The Spur of the Spur-winged Goose {Plectropterus 

 gambensis) . 



In Plectropterus gambensis we find a very different arratige- 

 ment prevailing from what is met with in Chauna (above, 

 p. 150). The single spur {Sp) is placed, not on the meta- 

 carpals at all, but on one of the carpal bones ; it projects 

 about an inch in length, with a slight curvature towards the 

 radius. 



There is an ungual phalanx, as in Chauna, at the extre- 

 mity of the first digit, but I am not sure that there is any 



Fig. 3. 



ph. 2 



End of rig-ht wing- of Plectropterus (jamhensis, reduced one half. Sp, spur. 

 D. 1, first digit : Ph. 2, ungual phalanx of ditto. D. 2, second 

 digit ; D. S, third digit, m.c, metacarpals. U, ulna. B, radius. 



corneous covering in this case to represent the unguis. The 

 whole of the first digit measures 1"3 in. in this bird, being 

 rather more than in Chauna derbiana, although the radius 

 and ulna are slightly shorter. 



4. The Spur of Parr a. 

 In Parra we return, as regards the single spur, to nearly 

 the same arrangement as is found in Chauna. The spur is 

 placed at the basal extremity of the coalesced metacarpals. 



