4 Mr. W. P. Pycraft on the 



The first feather is conspicuously shorter than the succeeding 

 remiges (save the most proxiraal)^ but the difference is not so 

 marked as in Gallinse. Fifth cubital present. 



Tectrices. Upper surface : — 



T. majores. — Well developed. Those of the manus much 

 longer and stouter than those of the cubitus. 



T. media. — Those of primaries 1 to 3 suppressed. The 

 remainder, though small, yet retain their pennaceous 

 character. On the cubitus they almost equal the T. majores 

 in length and robustness. 



T. minores. — About 5 to 6 cubital rows; they are absent 

 on the manus. Overlap uncertain. 



7\ marglnales. — There are several rows of this series on 

 the cubitus. Along the anterior margin they bridge over the 

 broad apterion, dividing the pt. alaris from the pt. humeralis. 

 Overlap distal. On the manus they are confined to two rows 

 running along the preaxial border. 



Par apt er on (PI. II., Par.). — I cannot yet speak defi- 

 nitely as to this group ; indeed it is difficult to say where 

 the remiges and their coverts cease and the parapteron begins, 

 the two groups are so gently graded one into another. If 

 we determine the homologies of these feathers simply by 

 their serial arrangement, then the cubital remiges and coverts 

 might be said to be continued right up the arm to the humeral 

 tract! Each '^remex'^ would have a dorsal major covert, 

 and a ventral major and median covert. There are six such 

 groups of " remiges '^ and coverts, forming the parapteron. 



The difficulties of this question are increased by the fact 

 that the most proximal cubitals are, as usual, much reduced 

 in length, the innermost and penultimate remiges being 

 smaller than their coverts. All the feathers in the para- 

 pteron seem to have an aftershaft ; in this, of course, they 

 agree with all the remaining feathers of the wing (and trunk), 

 save the remiges. Later on I hope to be able to speak more 

 definitely on this interesting, though apparently unimportant 

 point "^, 



* For the literature of this group, see Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of References. 



