450 Dr. Davy on the Temperature, fyc., of Birds. [1865. 



weight in grains of the fresh birds, before the removal of their feathers, is 

 inserted, the heading of the other columns is sufficiently distinctive. The 

 primates of the wings and the quill-feathers of the tail in each instance were 

 weighed apart. The weight of the whole of the plumage was ascertained 

 by two weighings, one before, the other after the feathers had been taken 

 out, the loss, including the whole of the quill-feathers, showing the total 

 amount. When a trial was made of more than one of a species, the results 

 have been inserted, on the idea that possibly they may be of some interest 

 in relation to variations ; these no doubt depending on many circumstances, 

 such as sex, condition as to fatness, and others less easy of appreciation. 



On the results in this Table I have but few remarks to offer. The regu- 

 larity of feathers as to number, i. e. of the primates of the wings and of 



