1916] Chandler: Structure of Feathers 251 
Suarr (fig. A). The portion of the quill distal to the superior umbilicus 
upon which are borne the vanes. Synonyms: rhachis, used generally as 
an alternative in heavier scientific writing. German synonym: Schaft, 
of general use. 
AFTERSHAFT (fig. A). The ventral counterpart of the shaft plus its vanes 
(“plate’, see below), springing from the ventral lip of the superior 
umbilicus, sometimes vestigial or absent. Synonyms: hyporhachis, used 
as is rhachis for shaft; accessory plume (Sundevall, 1886). German 
synonyms: Afterschaft, Nebenschaft (Gadow, 1891); Afterfeder (Studer, 
1878), Afterschaft, only its shaft (Studer, 1878). 
Puatr. A convenient term used by Mascha (1905), to designate the shaft 
with both its vanes. Synonym: vexillum (Clement, 1876). German 
synonym: Flache (Mascha, 1904). 
VANE (fig. A). That portion of the feather borne on one side of the shaft, 
composed of barbs, usually with barbules. Inner vane, that which is 
overlapped by the outer vane of the adjacent feather. Synonym: vexil 
lum, web, common alternatives (the vexillum of Clement, 1876, equals 
plate), pogonium (Sundevall, 1886). German synonym: Fahne, of 
general use. 
Bars (fig. B). A ramus or primary branch of the shaft plus its barbules 
(Beebe, 1906; Headley, 1895, et al.); has been loosely used by many 
authors to designate either the ramus alone, or the ramus with its 
barbules. German synonyms: words used for ramus also loosely used 
for barb; also Fiedern erster Ordnung (Haecker, 1896); Fiedern (AhI- 
born, 1896). 
‘-- dist. van. 
1 
pei 
ee 
ern — Yi, 
-», ridge.) , 
b.----—— pith. {" 
' 
4 
1 
— 
! 
<- prox. van. 
Fig. B. Proximal half of barb of duck. Abbreviations: dist. v., distal vanule; 
prox. van., proximal vanule; 7., ramus; vil., villi. 
Ramus (figs. B and C). A primary branch of the shaft, forming the main 
stem or lamella of a barb, upon which are normally borne barbules. 
Synonym: barb (see above); secondary quill (Mascha, 1905). German 
synonyms: Aeste (Nitzsch, 1867; Gadow, 1891; Wiedersheim, 1909); 
Strahlen (Studer, 1878; Davies, 1889); Fiederlamelle (Ahlborn, 1896); 
Fasern (Cuvier, 1809); sekundare Kiele (Mascha, 1904). 
