Jeffries on tlic Primaries of Birds. 157 



the ten-primaried families have but one " little feather" while 

 the nine-prim aried birds have two. Dr. Coues comes to the 

 conclusion that the second little feather is the homologue of the 

 first primary in ten-primaried birds. Next he passes on to the 

 first " little feather" and considers the pros and cons of this being 

 a primary also, but does not commit himself. He states that size 

 and shape point to its being a primary : that color, principally 

 relied on by Prof. Baird. points both ways ; and " that if the 

 feathers be not a covert, then the first fully developed primary has 

 none, while the rest have one apiece." 



In 1S78, Mr. Batchelder* showed that the second "little 

 feather" is sometimes developed into a spurious quill, thus con- 

 firming the supposition of Professor Baird. About the same 

 time Dr. Couesf again returned to the subject, only this time he 

 implies that both the '• little feathers" are primaries. He states 

 that size, shape, and position are in favor of the first ••little 

 feather" being a primary, while "coloration is against such hy- 

 pothesis," though it sometimes points the other way. as in Sitta 

 carol inensis. He entirely omits his argument about the first 

 primary having no covert, though he refers the readers to his 

 paper in the Bulletin. 



Before going farther it is necessary to study the feathers on the 

 wing in regard to position, structure, color, and shape. The 

 feathers of the wing are naturally divided into four or more sets. 

 These are (1) the remiges with their coverts above and below ; 

 (2) the contour feathers of the upper surface: (3) the contour 

 feathers of the lower surface; (4) the contour feathers of the 

 anterior edge, and the feathers of the false wing. The remiges 

 are developed along the posterior, or radial, edge of the fore-arm 

 and hand. Each remex has two coverts, one above and one 

 below — the upper covert more distal in position than the remex 

 it belongs to — - which serve to a greater or less degree in flight. 

 The coverts are arranged in quincunx order in relation to the 

 remiges. and morphologically are only the contour feathers next 

 to the remiges. However, they show such constant relations to 

 the remiges that they are naturally classed with them. The 

 remaining feathers of the upper and lower surfaces are contour 



* Hull. Nutt. Omith Club, III, Nfo. 2, Apr., 1878,1111.97-98. 

 t Birds of the Colorado Valley, Pt. I. pp. f.86 187. foot note. 



