1918.] Under Wing -Coverts of Birds. 541 



certain, as this bird was one of the last examined, and any 

 feathers with the contrary overlap would have been noted). 

 Median under coverts small and few. Only seven were 

 found, all on the cubitus (the cubital remiges number four- 

 teen) ; of these seven, the first four stand opposite, or a 

 little distal to, the first four major under coverts, and the 

 remaining three stand in like relation to the 6th, 7th, and 

 8th major coverts, leaving a gap opposite the 5th major 

 under covert, and so just opposite the gap in the remiges. 

 These small median under coverts do not have any overlap. 



Biiteo (?). One specimen examined, No. 5937. 



Major under coverts complete, eleven on the raanus, the 

 11th 30 mm. long, wliile its remex is 38 ram. ; overlap 

 conforming, excepting four or five feathers on the proximal 

 portion of the manus, which have the contrary overlap. 



Median under coverts present on the cubitus, larger than 

 in most of the Accipitres examined, the row ending distally 

 with one feather just opposite the first major under covert 

 on the manus. 



As to the Accipitres in general, it may be said that most 

 of them diverge from the normal type in their reversed 

 under coverts by having a greater or less number of the 

 major under coverts on the proximal part of the manus, 

 from the carpal joint outwards, with the contrary overlap. 

 This was found to be the case in every one of the numerous 

 specimens belonging to the genus Astur ; of the specimens 

 in which it was not found to be the case, some were 

 examined about the beginning of this investigation, when I 

 did not look so carefully for exceptionally placed feathers as. 

 I did later. The specimen of Polyboroides typicus certainly- 

 had the entire series conforming in overlap. 



Syrnium nuchale. One specimen examined, No. 5905- 

 Major under coverts complete, eleven on the manus, the^ 

 11th equalling the remicle (24 mm. long) ; overlap of all 

 conforming. This is the more certain since this bird was. 

 one of the latest examined. 



