128 ORTHOGENETIC EVOLUTION IN PIGEONS. 



The white streaks, which are sometimes found instead of white spots, are not even, 

 but constricted more or less at regular intervals; in other words, they represent 

 spots that are confluent in longitudinal lines. In some feathers we see two parallel 

 lines of white on the outer web. In the shorter anterior feathers the lines shorten 

 up, leaving only one or two pairs of spots near the tip. On the sides of the breast 

 these spots are seen to be only the outer portions of transverse bars, the bars being 

 various in their extent. 



In an axillar feather I find a most interesting condition, 1 to 6 or more conspicu- 

 ous white bars, with an equal number of shadowy light bars midway between the 



Explanation of Plate 62. 



A. The splendid parrakeet, Platycercus splendidus Gould. Copy by Toda, after Gould (Birds of 



Australia, vol. v, 1848). x 0.7. 



From a figure (pi. 28, upper figure) by Gould, described as the "plumage of youth," I see that the dark centers 

 are about the same as in the adult, but they extend farther up the back of neck. The head has much less red in the 

 juvenile than in the adult. The description is given as follows: 



"Head, sides of the neck and center of the breast scarlet; cheeks white, faintly tinged with blue; feathers of the 

 back and scapularies black, broadly margined with gamboge-yellow; lower part of the back and upper tail-coverts 

 pale green; on the shoulder a patch of black; wing-coverts pale blue, primaries black with the exception of the basal 

 portion of the external web, which is rich deep blue; two central tail-feathers dark green at the base, passing into 

 deep blue on the apical half of the external web and tipped with black; the next on each side is black on the internal 

 web, green at the base of the external web, blue for the remainder of its length, and slightly tipped with white; the 

 remainder of the tail-feathers are deep blue at the base of the external, and black at the base of the internal web, tin' 

 remaining portion of both webs being pale delicate blue, passing into white at the tip ; sides of the breast and abdomen 

 bright gamboge-yellow; vent pale green in some, in others pale bluish-green; under tail-coverts scarlet; irides dark 

 brown; bill horn-colour; feet mealy brown." 



B. The curlew, Numenius arquata Latham (Le Courlis). Copy by Toda, after Buffon (Ois, vol. 



vm, p. 19, pi. enl. 818.) x 0.9. 

 The turtle pattern prevails on head, neck, breast, and the whole wing and back. The beginning of bars on the 

 secondaries and tcrtials is carried out on tail and tail-coverts. The feathers have brown or brown-black centers 

 and light edges. 



Explanation of Plate 63. 



A. The black-backed Heniipodius melanotus Gould. Copy by Toda, after Gould (Birds of Australia, 



vol. v, Proc. Zool. Soc, pi. v, p. 8, 1848). 

 The female is said to be larger than the male; otherwise alike. Described as follows: 



"Crown of head black, each feather fringed with brown at the tip; space between the bill and the eye, stripe 

 over the eye and cheeks, light yellowish-brown, the feathers of the latter slightly tipped with black; back of the neck 

 rich chestnut-red; scapularies deep chestnut-red, with a large transverse black mark in the centre of each feather, 

 anil a longitudinal stripe of fawn-yellow on their outer edges; rump and upper tail-coverts black, each feather freckled 

 with fine markings of brown, with indistinct spots of bulT on the external edges of the upper tail-coverts; greater and 

 lesser wing-coverts buff-yellow, each feather having a spot of black in the centre; primaries brown; throat whitish; 

 front of the neck and chest deep buff ; sides of the neck and flanks light buff, with an oblong spot of black transversely 

 disposed in the centre of each feather; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts buffy-white; bill and feet brown." 



B. The collared plain-wanderer, Pelionomus torquatus Gould, x 0.75. Toda del., after John 



Gould (Birds of Australia, vol. v, 1868, pi. 80). 



The following is Gould's description: 



"Crown of the head reddish-brown, speckled with black; sides of the head and the neck light buff, speckled 

 with black; neck surrounded by a broad band of white, thickly spotted with black; all the upper surface reddish 

 brown, each feather having several transverse crescent-shaped marks in the centre, and margined with buff; tail 

 buff, crossed by numerous narrow brown bars; centre of the breast rufous, the remainder of the under surface buff; 

 the feathers on the breast marked in a similar manner to those on the upper surface, and the flanks with large irregular 

 spots of black; irides straw-yellow; bill yellow, passing into black at the point; feet greenish-yellow." 



C. Adult female European widgeon, Anas penelope. x 0.75. Toda del., after Buffon (Ois., vol. 



ix, p. 216, pi. enl. 803, Le Millouin). 

 Head and neck rufous brown (or reddish i ; breast vinaceous. Sides and back finely marked with transverse. 

 wavy, or zigzag lines or bars, dirk brown alternating with whitish-gray. This picture illustrates the fineness t<i 

 which bars are developed. 



