I 12 From Magazines, &c. - lM " u 



>J ° \_isl (Jut. 



even the scale-like markings which precede the feathers have 

 been clearly revealed on portions of the body, thus furnishing 

 another link in the evidence) the gap has been to some extent 

 bridged. To prove his thesis the author found it " necessary 

 to ascertain the mode by which the perennial moult of the in- 

 dividuals of a species of birds is made up, from the earliest to the 

 last stages of renewal ; and, further, to what extent each feather 

 participates in this annual process during the period of complete 

 feather-change." To carry out this investigation the specimens 

 observed were procured at intervals of a week, and whilst in a 

 comparatively fresh state, both wings of each specimen were 

 examined and measured, the stages of feather development being 

 most carefully noted. What may be called the processional 

 history of a bird's plumage is recorded, from " downy investment " 

 to its mature stage, even the order in which feathers are cast 

 having been observed. Moult problems are very fully entered 

 into, and by means of copious notes, plates, and diagrams much 

 is done towards their elucidation. Re change of plumage without 

 moult, Mr. Degen writes, in a letter to Mr. A. J. Campbell : — 

 "Feathers are funny bits of tissue, so that aftera year theyarenot 

 worth even sending to the dyer's. . . . Colour-change without 

 moult, indeed ! The disciples of the fraud are fast vanishing, both 

 in Europe and America. Does not replacement of pigment suggest 

 vitality of an organ, and, as a natural consequence, vascularity ? 

 And the latter, again, how can it exist without the accompani- 

 ment of nerves? A bird will not even wince if you cut one of its 

 feathers. ... Of course, if you pull it out the effect is different, 

 the old stump sitting tightly on the newly-formed papilla 

 beneath." 



It will be recollected the last time we referred to Mr. Degen's 

 work was in connection with a projected trip with Colonel Harring- 

 ton to Abyssinia.* Mr. Degen has distinguished himself as a 

 careful collector, bringing back five new animals, including 

 Otomys degen/, which have been described by Mr. Oldfielcl Thomas, 

 F.R.S.f Mr. Degen's principal haul, however, was 350 specimens 

 of fish from Lake Tsana. Mr. G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S., who 

 examined the fish, described no less than 21 new species, including 

 Barbus degeni.\ Two new lizards were also collected, which were 

 also described by Mr. Boulenger, and Mr. Degen received a well- 

 merited third dedication in Latastia degeni.% 



A CORRECTION. — " Notes on a Collection of Bird-skins from 

 the Fitzroy River, North-Western Australia" (Hall — Rogers). 

 The notes of No. 122 (page 42) refer to Scythrops novce-hollandice 

 (Channelbill), instead of Eudynamis eyanoccphala (Koel). 



* Emu, vol. i. , p. 155- 



+ Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud., vol. ii., part 2, p. 308 (1902). 

 t Ann. A/a*. Nat. Hist., 7th ser., vol. x., p. 421 (1902). 

 § Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 7th ser., vol. xi., p. 54 (1903). 



