Tail-feathers of the Grebes. 475 
But the main purpose of this short paper is to shew 
that the Grebes cannot accurately be described as “ tail-less,” 
Text-fig. 50, 
Tail-feather of Podicipes rollandi, shewing the continuous vane formed 
by the interlocking action of the barbules. x 3. 
although in some species the tail-feathers are extremely de- 
generate in character, 
