234 Mr. W. P. Pycraft on the 
T. marginales.—These afford no facts of interest, except 
that they are throughout relatively long feathers, not 
forming a series of small, closely overlapping feathers, as 
in so many birds. 
Tectrices: under surface :— 
The 7. majores appear to be wanting, but the 7. medie 
are represented by small weak feathers. In addition to this 
row the under surface of the wing is very sparsely covered 
by a few straggling feathers representing the minor and 
marginal coverts. The latter in their shortness contrast 
with the same feathers in the Passeres, where the most 
preaxial rows are drawn out into long plumes masking the 
whole of the fleshy portion of the forearm, 
Plumule or down-feathers are wanting. 
The Uropygium is tufted. 
The Rhamphotheca is Finch-like in shape and has the 
tomium entire. The nostrils are circular, have a slightly 
swollen rim, and are placed close to the feathers of the 
lores. 
The Podotheca.—The acrotarsium (text-fig. 11, p. 232) is 
covered by five large scutes, which fail to meet in the middle 
line behind. The gap—along the planta—is filled in by 
soft skin covered with small granulations. The acropodium 
is peculiar, the back of each toe being covered with a number 
of small scutes, all of equal size. 
In all the spirit-specimens examined, the hallux occupies 
the normal position, its under surface being apposed to that 
of D.I1.: without difficulty, however, it can be brought 
round to the pamprodactylous position. 
Claws.—On the toes these are moderately long, laterally 
compressed and hook-shaped; they are of equal size on 
D. IL-IV., but that of the hallux is slightly smaller than 
the rest. The pollex of the nestling bears the vestige of a 
claw, but this is entirely lost in the adult. 
Neossoptiles.—The nestling-down plumage is vestigial, 
being represented only by a few minute rami borne on the 
tips of the contour-feathers, 
