37 



supplying^ force to counteract this side leverage are so developed 

 that the side of the head on which the point of the under beak 

 curves up is quite considerably larger than the other. Assyinetrv 

 such as this is a rather rare phenomenon in nature. 



Continuing our scrutiny we see that the birds nostrils are 

 covered by stiff and woolly looking feathers which apparently exist 

 either for the purpose of preventing dust or chips getting drawn 

 in while they are engaged in robbing tbe cones of their burden 

 or perhaps to exclude the keen air of their far northern habitat 

 I incline to think that their use is to keep out dust and chips. 



Anlt* P T.! nag f iS ver ? dense and th ere is a thick substratum of 

 down. This down and the bases of the contour feathers are 

 always grey the varying colours of the birds being due to the tips 

 and edges of the contour feathers which are of different colour Tn 

 different individuals. Birds of all colours between lignt grey 

 through green and yellow to deep vermillion may be found but 

 the female appears never to assume the red plumage 



Their feet are large and strong with metatarsus short (the 

 metatarsus is he unfeathered joint of the leg between the foot 

 and true heel of the bird, which is often called the knee 

 unscientificaUy). The three toes in front and one b hind are 

 covered with coarse scales above and beneath are rough and wartv 

 with large muscular pads at the joints. The nails are Ion- and 

 pointed and the two edges beneath are very sharp. ° 



Their wings are long and narrow and the first ninion io 



b?aT% 4 r e ^° nge f- The ^ feathers « always b ownis 

 back with lighter edges partaking of the general colour oT the 

 individual bird The tail is short and forked and of the ame 

 colour, the under and upper covering feathers being very long 



Their flesh when dead remains good a very Ion- time nerha™ 

 SooT 11 " PreSerVatiVe aCti ° n ° f the ^^ntine^ontalned Tn 



Thus far my own observations. 



Fi Jl how f, vei l' * dd some detaiI * gleaned from « Die Voe-el Mittel 

 . Europas of Naumann which seem to me of great interest! 



firstly, as to the beak and its shape. 



