NINTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



223 



Ahi^T AND EGGS OF THE CASSOWARY 



yet been assigned for the remarkable development of the after- 

 shaft in the Emeu and Cassowary. 



The third type of degeneracy is well shown by the body plumage 

 of the adult Apteryx. in which the aftershaft is lacking. 



To use an irrelevant simile, we can well realize that an athlete 

 can run with much greater ease in his loose cotton "togs" than in 

 a starched suit of clothing. Similarly the Ostriches and their 

 allies can carry on their cursorial life to much better advantage 

 in their loose, llufly. hair-like ])lumage than in the less flexible 

 feathers of their ancestors. 



E. Clazi's and Scales. — Degenerate as are the wings of the 

 ratite birds, all bear the indelible hall-mark of their reptilian ])ro- 

 totypes. As in many Cariiiatac, all are furnished with one or 

 more claws at the extremity of the fingers. In the Cassowary, 

 Emeu and Apteryx the second finger alone is thus terminated, 

 but in the Rhea there are two. In the (Ostrich, not only are 

 there large and perfect claws ui)on the first, or thumb, ;ind the 

 second finger, but even the third digit, although it does not pene- 

 trate the integument, bears a vestigial claw, this condition being 



