194 



MR. J. G. GOODCHILD ON THE 



[Apr. 6, 



notice that there seems a constant difference of small amount between 

 the individuals of P. cristatus and P. nigripennis now living in the 

 collection. In P. nigiipennis all the feathers of the posterior row 

 of median coverts appear to lap distally. The Common Peacock is 



Fig. 15. 



Fig. 16. 



Tetrao. 



Euplocamus. 



well represented in the particular feature under notice by one of the 

 fine pieces of Japanese metal-work at South Kensington already re- 

 ferred to under the head of Accipitres. 



In the pterographic characters of both the Hemipodii and the 

 Crypturi, I have hitherto failed to discover any marked charac- 

 teristic connected with the point under consideration that would serve 

 to distinguish these birds from the Gallinse. In the case of the 

 Tinamous, especially, the structural characteristics of the palate had 

 led me to expect a wing-pattern of a much lower type. 



With the exception of Goura, already noticed, the pterographic 

 characters of the Columbae are remarkably uniform throughout. 

 These characters are well displayed in the case of the Domestic 



Fig. 17. 



Columha. 



Pigeon (fig. 17). Here it will be noticed that the proportion of 

 feathers showing distal overlap, at the proximal end of the median 

 coverts, remains much the same as in the Gallinae ; but that in place 

 of the well-marked, uniform, and uninterrupted proximal overlap of 



