SO Mr. W. P. Pycraft on the 



III. — On the Pterylography of Photodilus. 

 By W. P. Pycraft, A.L.S., F.Z.S. 



(Plate II.) 



The folloAviug paper gives the result of a careful study of 

 the pterylosis of an adult specimen of Photodilus badius 

 received recently by the Natural History Museum from 

 Dr. C. Hose, F.Z.S., the Resident at Baram, Borneo. 



Observations on this subject have been made before, but 

 no thoroughly detailed account of the pterylosis of Photo- 

 dilus luis hitherto been given. Although this article claims 

 to be the most nearly complete account of the subject up to 

 the present time, yet one or two small points still remain 

 to be recorded. These concern the overlap and the relative 

 lengths of the feathers forming the coverts of the dorsal 

 aspect of the wing, which could uot well be made out in the 

 specimen to hand. 



In the general form and distribution of the pterylae Photo- 

 dilus is distinctly Asionine in character, but in the form of 

 the external ear it is unique. 



I hope, ere long, to have the good fortune to be able 

 to study the pterylosis of Heliodints. This is now one of 

 the most important forms of the Striges awaiting a detailed 

 description. 



I. Description of the Pterylce. 



Pleryla capitis (PI. II.) :— 



Frontoparietal area. — This extends from the base of the 

 beak to the crown of the head, and passing backwards 

 merges into the occipital area. Traced from the beak it 

 commences in the form of a broad band bounded on either 

 side by the upper horns of the crescentic loral area. On 

 the crown of the head the band narrows somewhat, widening 

 again before passing into the occipital area, while it is 

 bounded on either side by a well-marked apterium. 



Occipital area (PI. II. fig. 3). — This may be said to com- 

 mence at a point corresponding to the level of the aperture 

 of the left ear as a sudden widening of the fronto-parietal 



