604 R. W. SHUFELDT 



tion and scutellation of the podothecae, which heretofore have 

 not been figured direct from photographs of the parts in ques- 

 tion. These figures also show, wdth great accuracy, the relative 

 proportions of the external features of the species. 



It is well known that the big claws of pollex and index digits 

 of the hand are more or less functional in this bird, and a num- 

 ber of naturalists have described the habit the young bird has of 

 assisting itself, when 'climbing' through the twigs of the trees 

 near the nest, by means of these clawed fingers; they are seen 

 pretty well in figures 3, 4, and 8. 



Upon examining the skin (alcoholic specimen) of the subadult 

 specimen at hand, I find that the pterylosis can be studied 

 with more or less satisfaction. The feathermg upon the sides 

 of the head and throat is very sparse, and there is a naked area 

 around the eye, especially below the lower eyehd. The crest 

 for the most part is median, though it spreads slightly upon 

 either hand towards the side of the head by feathers greatly 

 reduced in size. 



In the cervical region the pterylosis is strong and continuous, 

 with a total absence of naked spaces at the sides of the neck. 

 Anteriorly, the feathering of the lower cervical area is carried 

 down upon either side, to form rather broad, though not long, 

 ventral pterylae — each one of which, below the thorax, is car- 

 ried dowTi to the vent as a narrow line of pretty strong feathers. 



At the root of the neck dorsally, the pterylosis divides, to form 

 strong, narrow humeral tracts, while in the median line the 

 spinal tract is weak and narrow, particularly distally, where it is 

 carried down as far as the oil-gland. At the root of the neck this 

 spinal tract appears to be double ; but the branches are very 

 close together, and, upon proceeding forward, run together and 

 are lost among the feathers forming the pterylosis at the base 

 of the cervical region behind. 



The crural pterylae are but faintly marked and the oil-gland is 

 feathered. Feather-sheaths (pin-feathers) of the wings and tail 

 are large and strong, the latter being imperfect in the specimen 

 at hand, while I count nineteen remiges in the former, of which 

 ten occur upon the pinion. 



