34 Tin: KK\'iiiKi:-Ti; MPS nv sriii N ii;.\ i!i;n ah I'.KNTi. 



There should be a moult in spec. A to provide the 

 single rhachis prepennte of spec. B : not considering the 

 after shaft, which is present. A section of a follicle of 

 spec. A would probably show this down-like feather mak- 

 ing way for the succeeding prcpennae. This view is favour- 

 ed by the presence of odd specimens of fig. 1 among the 

 more fully developed priponnje of stages B and C. 



Looking at the youngest phase (figs. l-'J), those general- 

 ly known as downs are absent. The feathers still in the 

 follicles of the tracts of figs. 1-2 are down-like, and with the 

 brown pigment of the true feather- This leads one to 

 believe the first generation has been suppressed. They 

 occupv the same areas that the feathers of fig. 3 will do. 

 These latter (second stage) compare with those of the newly- 

 hatched megapodiust. 



Downs are said to be absent in Atrichornis, a second 

 remnant genus also represented in the south-west and south- 

 east of the continent by a single species in each area. 



Tlie colour of stage A is uniform bluish gi'ey, except- 

 ing the lower mandible, the prorimal edge of the iippt-r 

 mandible, the inside of the mouth and the tcugue, 

 which are strong lemon yellow. 



Figs. 1 and 2 show the fealher tracts of the dorsal and 

 ventral surfaces. 



Pteryla vcntralis. It forms a single tract that is not 

 divisible into the usual short outer and long inner branches. 

 It forms a band of great breadth extending from the 

 shoulder a considerable distance backward, and then nar- 

 rowing down, but not to meet, thus leaving a distinct and 

 broad apt mesogastrei. 



Pt. Spinalis — A. Rami, all arising from a common 

 base. 



B. Two types, one without rami, from 



a common base, the other hav- 

 ing a central rhachis. 



C. Two types : one as in A, the other 



showing a well-developed ramus. 

 with a long rhachis. 



D. Contour feathers, as in the latter 



of C, being much longer. There 

 are few booklets when comjjai- 

 ed with the normal quantity in 

 Cracticus and Collyriocincla. 



t W. p. Py craft (WHley's Zool Results, New Britain, etc., Plate 

 XLIX., fig. 6, 1910), kindly lent by Prof. T. T. Flynn. 



