ZOOLOGY. 613 



extended aud is viewed from the dorsal or upper surface. The wing- 

 surface is primarily divided into the manual (primary) region and the 

 cubital (secondary) region, this last embracing all the feathers that 

 originate from any part of the forearm or cubitus." Of the manual re- 

 gion, Mr. Goodchild has nothing to say. " In the cubital region the 

 remiges, and the greater coverts that come on next above them, are uni- 

 form in disposition in all carinate birds. In these feathers the overlap 

 is uniformly distal ; that is to say, the several feathers are disposed in 

 such a manner that the outer free edges of those nearer the vertebral 

 axis overlap the inner edges of those originating near the distal ex- 

 tremity of the wing. The same observation applies also (but with some 

 minor modifications of detail) to the lesser coverts, or those feathers that 

 mainly originate in the patagium, and that extend along the anterior 

 border of the wing from the humeral fold to the carpal joint. Tlie re- 

 mainiug feathers, which are generally comprehended under the term 

 median coverts, vary considerably in both their direction of imbrication 

 and in the number of rows that run parallel to the greater coverts in 

 each case." The object of Mr. Goodchild was to consider " the nature 

 aud the extent of the variation referred to, without regard to the 

 morphological details of any other kind soever." Manj'- of the fticts 

 signalized by him " have either not been noticed, or else, if they 

 have been noticed, their significance appears to have been missed." 

 For convenience of description, the tract occupied by the median cov- 

 erts has been divided by Mr. Goodchild into " three areas by lines 

 l)arallel to the main direction of the cubital quills." (1) The area near- 

 est the vertebral axis is referred to as " the proximal area;" (2) that 

 next is called the "middle area," and (3) the remaining "up to the 

 distal border next the manual region" is distinguished as the "distal 

 area." The " rows of feathers composing the median coverts range, in 

 a general way, parallel with the greater coverts ; the number of rows 

 varies from one to six, or even more, in different forms of birds ; and 

 tlie row nearest the greater coverts is the one most subject to variation 

 in the disposition of 'the feathers composing it." 



Many of the results reached by Mr. Goodchild in his investigations 

 are interesting. While some bring additional confirmation to the views 

 accepted by systematists of the relations of various birds, others con- 

 travene such views and may possibly indicate affinities other than have 

 been accepted. 



The passerine style of imbrication represents one system of arrange- 

 ment well exemplified by the wing of the thrush or migratory robin. 

 In the crows, " an approach toward a soraew^hat different mode of ar- 

 rangement is made," and "another minor modification is seen in the 

 Alaudidm" or larks. "The swallows all appear to follow the normal 

 passerine type," but that of the swifts appears to be essentially different. 



With reference to the mooted question of the propriety of the group- 

 H. Mis. COO 33 



