186 MR. Jp G. GOODCHILD ON THE (Apr. 6, 
In dealing with the various modifications, I propose to take the 
birds as nearly as possible in the order adopted by Dr. Sclater in the 
Eighth Edition of the ‘ List of Vertebrated Animals now or lately 
living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London.’ 
Fig. 1. 
Illustrations of the terms used in the following description, as shown by the 
feathers of the Cubital Region in the Golden Plover. 
1 to 1’. Posterior Border. 2 to 2’. Anterior Border. 2' to 1’. Proximal End. 
2 to 1. Distal Edge of the Cubital Region (shown by the thicker line). 
A. Cubital Remiges. B. Greater Wing-coverts. C. Supplementary 
row of Median Coverts, or Upper Wing-coverts. D. Posterior row of 
Median Wing-coverts. HE. Second row. F. Third row. The Posterior 
row of Median Coverts from D, near the Carpal joint, shows Proximal 
Overlap as far as the point marked with a small cross. Distal Overlap 
is shown by the mode of imbrication of the Greater Wing-coverts. 
The Passerine style of imbrication represents one extreme of the 
range of modification observable, and is well exemplified by the wing 
of Zurdus merula (fig. 2). In this the median ecoverts consist of a 
single uninterrupted row of feathers, whose free edges are regularly 
directed backwards along a curve extending from near the carpal 
joint towards a point near the elbow. The same figure shows also 
one of the simplest arrangements of the Lesser Cubital Coverts. 
Such an arrangement as obtains in the Blackbird may be traced, with 
modifications of only minor importance, through some thousands of 
