354 Mr. W. P. Pycraft on the 



sparsely besprinkled with minute down-tufts, more or less 

 definitely arranged, and indicating the definitive feathers. 



Stage 3. The true down-feathers (pluraulse) have still 

 further increased, save those on the head and neck, which 

 still remain undeveloped. 



Pt. alaris : — 



Primaries. — The vanes of these feathers are beginning to 

 unfold, and have considerably increased in length. The 

 sheath enveloping the vane of remex 10 is just appearing. 



Cuhitals. — The development of these remiges decreases 

 from without inwards. Thus, while No. 1 is about as long 

 as the major covert of the hand, or, in other words, is about 

 half an inch long. No. 10 is as yet only represented by its 

 neossoptile. 



Tectrices : — 



T. majores. — Those on the hand rather more than half as 

 long as primaries ; the vane is just beginning to burst through 

 its enveloping sheath. 



On the cubitus they are much further developed than their 

 respective remiges, so that they appear rather as remiges 

 than coverst. Like the remiges, they decrease in length 

 from without inwards, so that only a small portion of the vane 

 of the most proximal covert has yet appeared. 



T. mecliee. — The definitive feathers of Nos. 1-3 have just 

 begun to make their appearance. 

 Under surface of wing as in stage 2. 



Stage 4. The function of the neossoptiles is on the wane, 

 inasmuch as they now appear borne out upon the pencil- 

 like* tips of the definitive feathers. 



The true down-feathers (plumulae) have greatly increased, 

 so as to almost entirely conceal the skin ; on the back part 

 of the head and neck, however, their development is very 

 slight. 



Pt. alaris : — 



Primaries. — These have greatly increased in length. 



* The vanes of the definitive feathers, at a certain stage of develop- 

 ment, resemble a camel-hair pencil brought to a fine point. 



