SECOND SECTION. 



OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PLUMAGE OF BIRDS IN DEFINITELY 



LIMITED TRACTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



OF THE ARRANGEMENT OF FEATHERS IN GENERAL. 



IT is only in a very few birds that the contour-feathers are distributed, like the hairs of the 

 Mammalia, uniformly, and in uninterrupted sequence over the whole body, in such a manner 

 that only the horny covering of the beak, and the toes and tarsi are not covered by them ; in 

 most birds they are arranged in crossing rows. An uninterrupted covering of feathers occurs, for 

 example, in the genus Aptenodytes, LINN., in which I have found it to be particularly complete ; 

 also in the Cassowaries, in which, besides the naked parts of the head and neck, only the 

 pectoral callosity has no feathers ; in Palamedea cornuta, in which the axillary region alone is 

 destitute of feathers, and in Palamedea ckavaria, which, however, also possesses the well-known 

 featherless band on the neck. There are some other birds in which a similar character may be 

 detected, although in a less degree of development. But most birds have an incomplete feathery 

 covering, the contour-feathers on the head, trunk, and anterior limbs, forming more or less 

 elongated, narrow bands, bounded by other bands which are either naked or only clothed with 

 down. The latter are certainly covered, but by no means clothed, by the contour-feathers of the 

 neighbouring feathered bands. 



To these feathered bands I give the name of FEATHER-TRACTS or CONTOUR-FEATHER-TRACTS 

 (pterylae? Federn-fluren), and to the naked bands, or those which are not beset with contour- 

 feathers, that of FEATHERLESS-SPACES (opteria, Federnraine). Both kinds of bands may be 

 readily distinguished and named according to the parts of the body on which they occur; 

 I will, therefore, mention them at once, and propose the denominations which I shall employ to 

 denote them in future. 



I. I have particularly distinguished the following Tracts : 



1. The dorsal tract (Pt. spinalis, Riickgratflur). 



2. The humeral tracts (Pt. humerales, Schulterfluren). 



1 Properly feather-forest, derived from TrrtpoV and O'Xj). 



