Chap. XIV.] GRADATION OF CHARACTERS. 



143 



to the uppermost ocellus (b) is represented only by a very 

 short irregular black mark with the usual, curved, trans- 

 verse base. As this stripe is thus abruptly cut off above, 

 we can understand, from what has gone before, how it is 

 that the upper thickened part 

 of the ring is absent in the 

 uppermost ocellus ; for, as 

 before stated, this thickened 

 part is apparently formed 

 by a broken prolongation of 

 the next higher spot in the 

 same row. From the absence 

 of the upper and thickened 

 part of the ring, the upper- 

 most ocellus, though perfect 

 in all other respects, appears 

 as if its top had been ob- 

 liquely sliced off. It would, I 

 think, perplex any one, who 

 believes that the plumage of 

 the Argus pheasant was cre- 

 ated as we now see it, to ac- 

 count for the imperfect condi- 

 tion of the uppermost ocelli. 

 I should add that in the sec- 

 ondary wing-feather farthest 

 from the body all the ocelli 



are smaller and less perfect Fio.sa— Portion near summit of oue 



, ^ , of the Secondary wine-feathers, 



than on the other feathers, bearing perfect ball-and-socliet 



with the upper parts of the „ Omamented upper part. 



external black rings deficient, '■ YPJlT^ocdilr'S 'silldS 



as in the case just mentioned. l^^^^^,,^ .lI^'^LCis Tere'l 



The imperfection here seems ^ perfec\°ocenus? 



to be connected with the fact 



that the spots on tins feather show less tendency than 



