042 PBOCEEDIXGS OF TEE XATfOXAL MUSEUM. volxxi. 



cure me specimens of Tympamtchus citpido; and to Mr. Thomas J. Egan, 

 of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for some interesting notes on ptarmigans and a 

 great deal of useful material. Thanks to the exceptional opportunities 

 thus afforded me, I have had the privilege of examining in the flesh 65 

 specimens, representing 18 species and all the Xorth American genera. 

 The species 1 have failed to secure are Colin its ridgtcayi, Lagopun 

 leucurns, Tympanuchus cupuJo, and Tympanuchus palUdicinctus. The 

 result of the study of this material has not been in any way extraordi- 

 nary^, but I believe it throws some light on the relationship of the 

 genera, and as the knowledge of pterylograi)hy becomes more com- 

 plete, the facts herein recorded may prove of real value in the classifi- 

 cation of the group. 



So far as I can ascertain, the only observations which have ever been 

 recorded on the pterylography of the North American Galliuic are con- 

 tained in the "System der Pterylographie" of Xitzsch: these relate to 

 only five species and will be considered when I take up the genera to 

 which they belong. So far as the general pterylosis of the group goes, 

 his figures and descriptions do very well, but they are hardly detailed 

 enough to answer the purposes of modern comparative work, while a 

 few of his observations are probably mistakes due to using dried skins 

 as the basis of his work. His preliminary observations on the uni- 

 formity of the Gallinine type of pterylosis are only true, as we shall 

 see. (»f the Alecteropodes, and even among them the Phasianid.e show 

 no little diversity. 



The pterjdography of our G-alliua' is, however, remarkably uniform, 

 and the generic differences in the fundamental plan are, as a rule, of 

 slight importance. The whole head is uniformly feathered, except for 

 apteria near the eyes and ears. The upper cervical tract is of medium 

 width, but the feathers become larger and fewer as we pass backward, 

 until between the shoulders this tendency reaches its maximum, and 

 here the tract m'ay become more or less forked and often slightly sepa- 

 rated from the dorsal tract. The latter is broadest just at the end of 

 the shoulder blades, and from there gradually narrows to the oil gland. 

 The degree of union between the anterior end of the dorsal and the 

 jtosterior end of the upper cervical tract varies in all the genera and 

 even to a slight extent in individuals. The humeral tracts are always 

 strong and broad, and the parapterum is usually well defined. The 

 femoral tracts are also large and clearlj- defined, and are one of the 

 most characteristic features of the pterylosis. The feathering of the 

 feet varies markedly in the different genera. The lower cervical tract 

 is usually rather narrow and foiks at a variable distance above the 

 furcula. The sternal tracts are very strong and well defined, and are 

 usually connected with the hypoptera by hook-shaped tracts on the sides. 

 The ventral tract is united at the anus, but at a variable distance in 

 front of that point is forked and runs uj) the breast on either side of 

 the keel of the sternum and may even be more or less united anteriorly 

 with the sternal tracts. Behind the anus is a pteryla formed by the 



