114 PTERYLOGRAPHY. 



are sometimes (as in P. dentata and marylandica) curved inwards in the form of a sickle, some- 

 times (as in P. cinerea and petrosa) notched and narrowed on the inner vane. 



2. PHASIANID^;. 

 a. TJie main stems of the inferior tract remain completely separated to the anus. 



1. Meleagris. Besides the above-noted variation of the inferior tract, which is probably 

 caused by the shortness of the sternum and the corresponding greater extension of the ventral 

 surface, the pterylosis of the Turkey (M. gallnpavo, Plate VII, figs. 9 and 10) presents no peculi- 

 arities except in the greater breadth of the two main stems of the inferior tract. The dorsal 

 tract is rather sparsely feathered in the middle, and encloses a lanceolate space between the 

 shoulder-blades, which also extends into the widened portion. The lumbar tracts are entirely 

 free, and the axillary tracts on the whole not so strong as usual. The naked carunctilated 

 portions of the head and anterior part of the neck cause the two bands of the inferior tract to 

 commence only on the middle of the latter, where they are separated from each other ; but the 

 dorsal tract reaches nearly to the occiput. In the wings I counted twenty-eight remiges, of 

 which the eleventh is very small ; the tail contains eighteen rectrices. The after-shaft of the 

 contour-feathers is minute, but is of considerable size on the down-feathers which form the 

 borders of the tracts. The commencement of each band of the inferior tract near the branch also 

 consists only of such down-feathers. The oil-gland has seven large umbellate plumes on its 

 mamilla. On the jugular portion of the inferior space in the male, immediately in front of the 

 furcula, there is, as is well known, a long beard-like tuft, which consists of several stiff bristles, 

 perfectly destitute of barbs, but hollow. 



2. Numida. This genus approaches very closely to the preceding in its pterylosis, but is 

 distinguished by the following points, as appears from an examination of N. meleagris and N. 

 mitrata LATH. The dorsal tract is interrupted at the extremity of the strong scapular fork, and 

 the rather narrow posterior portion, which, however, as in Mdcayris, is broader in front, has no 

 longitudinal space. The axillary tracts are much narrower, but the lumbar tracts are so broad, 

 at least anteriorly, that they come in contact with the dorsal tract. The main stem of the inferior 

 tract commences in front near the branch with only one row of feathers, and appears to be 

 separated from its neighbour posteriorly as far as the anus. The contour-feathers have a still 

 smaller after-shaft. On the wings there are twenty-four remiges, but the eleventh is not so 

 remarkably reduced in size ; the tail consists of sixteen feathers. 



b. The main stems of the inferior tract coalesce into a single band from the extremity of the 



sternum. 



1. Cn/ptonyx. The species investigated by me, C. coronata, has the dorsal tract of Melca- 

 gris, and the broad lumbar tracts, coalescent with the dorsal, of Numida ; but is distinguished 

 from both by the remarkably narrow, acute, outer branch of the inferior tract and its very narrow 



