THE TURTLE-DOVE PATTERN IN OTHER ORDERS OF BIRDS. 127 



The sharp-tailed sandpiper. — In Tringa acuminata, according to the figures and 

 description of Brisson 20 and of Buffon, 20 the turtle-dove pattern prevails throughout. 

 The feathers have dark or blackish centers. The edges of the scapulars and coverts 

 of the upper parts are reddish, while lighter or whitish prevail on the lower parts 

 (pi. 60, fig. A). 



The splendid parrakeet. — According to Gould's 27 figures and descriptions, Platy- 

 cercus splendidus has dark centers in both the juvenal and adult plumage, but these 

 extend farther up the back of the neck in the juvenile feathers. Further, the head 

 in the young has much less red than in the adult (pi. 62, fig. A). 



The black-backed hemipode. — From the same sources I learn that Hemipodius 

 melanotus has feathers with pale edges — brown on the head and buff-yellow on 

 the wings. The black center seems to be variously modified in the several regions 

 of the wing; sometimes it is a reduced black spot, other times it simulates a trans- 

 verse bar (pi. 63, fig. A). 



The collared plain-wanderer . — According to Gould, 28 Pedionomus torquatus has 

 black centers in the feathers of the neck region, where all of the feathers are broadly 

 tipped with white; the "flanks with large irregular spots of black," and with trans- 

 verse barring much more complete than in Hemipodius just described. The bars 

 are not only more complete in Pedionomus, but also much more numerous on the 

 individual feathers (pi. 63, fig. B). 



The curlew. — From the works of Brisson 29 and of Buffon, 30 data of interest are 

 to be obtained on 4 of the 5 species to which we next refer. In Numenius arquata the 

 turtle-pattern prevails on the head, neck, breast, and on the whole wing and back. 

 The feathers have brown or brown-black centers and light edges. The beginning of 

 bars on the secondaries and tertials is carried out on the tail and the tail-coverts 

 (pi. 62, fig. B). These beginnings of bars are of much interest when compared 

 with their more extended distribution in the rail and the wood-sandpiper, where 

 "white dots" have also made their appearance. 



The Philippine rail. — In Rallus pectoralis the feathers are strongly barred trans- 

 versely below. On the upper parts the turtle-dove pattern prevails, but with the 

 additional feature of a roundish white spot on each web of the feather near the 

 margin (text-fig. 24, A). These spots, both in position and in general appearance, 

 appear to be like the white spots on the wing of Geopelia cuneata; and in the latter 

 bird the spots are known to be of later origin than transverse bars, and are also 

 there known to represent the lateral portions of such bars. 



The Virginia rail. — In Rallus virginianus we find again roundish white dots or 

 spots which are derived from bars, in the same manner as in Geopelia cuneata. 

 This is seen in the feathers of the back (interscapular region), in the scapulars, 

 the tertials, in the inner upper wing-coverts, and on the sides of the breast. Dark 

 centers are present in most of these feathers marked with spots 31 (or white streaks). 



25 Brisson Ornith., V, p. 216, pi. xix, fig. 2. 



26 Buffon, Ois, vol. VII, p. 553, pi. enl., 852. 



27 Proc. Zool. Soc, pi. xm, p. 105. and Birds of Australia, Vol. V, 1848. 

 2S Birds of Australia, Vol. V, 1848 and Proc. Zool. Soc, 1840. 



29 Brisson, Ornith., Vols. V and VI. 



30 Buffon, Ois, Vols. VII, VIII, and IX. The descriptions of RaUus virginianus are my own, from individuals kept in 

 captivity. 



31 I have (1909) a pair of Carolina rails in which I find that the female has the turtle dark center on the wings, 

 while the male has advanced beyond — is lighter in most parts than is the female and has more variegation with white 

 on the back. 



