130 ORTHOGENETIC EVOLUTION IN PIGEONS. 



The wood sandpiper. — Totanus glareola has the turtle-pattern of feather on the 

 neek and on the side of the breast, the centers being ashy-brown with white edges. 

 The feathers of the back and the wing-coverts are of clear-brown color, with small 

 whitish spots on the edge of each web. The long coverts and the tertials have these 

 spots repeated at regular intervals along the outer margin of the feather, showing 

 plainly their relation to bars (text-fig. 24, B). 



This is another very fine illustration of the method of origin of white dots. 

 Everything indicates that the dots arise as in Geopelia cuneata, where I have shown 

 that they arise from the lateral portions of transverse bars. The bars are fully 

 developed in the tail-feathers of this species. 



The widgeon. — The remarkable extent to which transverse barring, with very 

 narrow bars, may be developed is well shown in Anas penclope (pi. 63, fig. C). We 

 shall later see that plain remnants of the turtle-pattern, dark crescentic tips, and 

 very fine barring, are all frequently found in this genus. 



The crowned guinea-fowl. — The adult wing of Numida coronata shows numerous 

 white dots, and a relation between these and white bars is plainly indicated in the 

 proximal exposed parts of the primaries (pi. 64, fig. B). In the juvenal stage the 

 feathers of the wing have dark centers and light edges (pi. 64, fig. A). 



The ring-necked pheasant of China. — The male Phasianus torqualus has departed 

 notably more from ancestral conditions than has the female. The latter still plainly 

 preserves the dark center and the pale tip, though both are somewhat modified 

 (pi. 65). 



~ t = ^'~ 



Explanation of Plate 64. 



The crowned guinea-fowl, Nwmida coronata. Copy by Toda, after Elliot (Monograph of the Pha- 

 sianidse, vol. n). 



A. Juvenal; shows dark centers and light edges in feathers of wing. 



B. Adult; description according to Elliot: 



"Upper parts, neck and breast brownish-black, thickly covered with white spots; between the spots a fine net- 

 work of white lines. Rump and tail black, with the same coloured spots and pattern as the back. Flanks and under 

 tail-coverts pure black, spotted with white; without any tracing. Primaries and secondaries dark brown, covered witli 

 white spots, with the edges of the outer webs having short lines of white cutting into the black. Head and neck-bars, 

 bluish in colour. A high bony casque on the top of the head, in some specimens curving backwards. Wattles 

 elongated, longer in some individuals than in others, and not of specific importance. Bill, legs, and feet black. " 



Explanation of Plate 65. 



The ring-necked pheasant of China, Phasianus torqualus. Toda del., 1904, after Elliot (Mono- 

 graph of Phasianicke, vol n). 



A. "Male. — Upper part of head light green; ear-tufts and neck dark green, with bluish reflections. Collar 

 around the neck white, divided in front by the green. Upper part of back red, the feathers tipped and margined 

 with black. Wing-coverts buff in the centres, followed by a line of black, and tipped with purplish-red. Rump red, 

 with green reflections, the buff centres of some of the feathers usually showing amid the red. Shoulders of the 

 wings light brown, with a greenish lustre. Secondaries light brown, with deep chestnut margins. Primaries brown, 

 barred irregularly with yellowish white. Upper tail-coverts red. Breast rich metallic purplish red, the feathers 

 margined with bluish black. Flanks golden chestnut, centre of each feather tipped with dark blue. Abdomen 

 black, with greenish reflections. Upper tail-coverts red. Tail very long, yellowish brown, irregularly barred with 

 black, and margined with red. Bare skin of face scarlet. Bill horn colour. Feet and legs dark grey. 



B. "Female. — Upper part of head black, tipped with light brown. Throat yellowish-white. Rest of neck reddish 

 brown, tipped with black. Upper part of back has the feathers chestnut in the centre, followed by a bar of black, 

 and tipped with very light rufous brown. Feathers of back black in the centre, margined with light brown dotted 

 with black. Feathers of the rump black, margined with yellowish-brown. Secondaries blackish brown, mottled and 

 barred with rufous brown and buff. Primaries dark brown, barred with yellowish-white. Upper part of breast rufous, 

 dotted with black. Under parts yellowish brown. Tail shorter than that of the male, dark chestnut in the centre, 

 crossed with black bars broken in the middle by an irregular buff line, and the outer margins of both webs light 

 yellowish-brown, mottled with black; tips black. Bill horn colour. Feet and legs dark grey." 



