1901.] PTERYLOSIS or THE GIANT HFMMING-BIBD. 317 



are not clearly disconnected from, the row of stiff and prominent 

 feathers already described above the eye ; the lower surface of the 

 eyelid bears one row of feathers internal to them. The large 

 auditory aperture, whose lower boi'der is very distinctly produced 

 and everted, is surrounded by a conspicuous fringe of feathers ; 

 this line of feathei's around the ear is not distinctly connected with 

 any of the other rows. On the outer side of the lower mandible, 

 parallel with the vibrissas, a double row of ' ramal ' feathers runs 

 backward towards the angle of the jaw ; the outer row of this 

 double series is in very close relation, if not in direct connection, 

 with the feathers of the auditory ring. The interramal ' chin- 

 feathers ' are sparse and ai'e separated from the mandibular or 

 ramal area by a wide interval. 



It will be found that this account is very similar to Mr. H. L. 

 Clark's account of Phalcenoptilus nuttaUi. Bearing in mind the 

 general features and minor difference in other genera of Caprimul- 

 gidae, as described by Mr. Clark, I think we may say that there is 

 a somewhat surprising resemblance between the pterylosis of the 

 head in these forms and in our Humming-bird. The linear 

 arrangement of the feathers is in a general way comparable ; the 

 median frontal apterion is well marked and the occipital one is 

 indicated in the G-oatsuckers ; the main row of feathers over the eye 

 is similar in both, and both liave the complete circle of eye- 

 lashes, though these diifer in appearance, being complete small 

 feathers in the Humming-bird, and not single stiff ' cilia ' as in the 

 Goatsucker. The connection between the auditory ring of feathers 

 and those of the regions anterior to it is not very clear in either 

 case, and would seem to be slightly different in the two according 

 to my description and figures ; the strong vibrissge of the Goatsucker 

 have no counterpart in the Humming-bird ; but, apart from these 

 differences, the resemblance between the two forms seems to me 

 very noteworthy, and the more noteworthy and the more puzzling, 

 in being apparently much greater than the resemblance of either 

 form with the Swift. 



The Pterylosis oe the Wing. 



The Humming-birds are universally described as possessing ten 

 primaries and six secondaries. As a matter of fact, Patagona 

 possesses a distinct but minute seventh inner secondary. 



The fourth primary from the end of the wing, that is to say the 

 seventh reckoning from within outwards, is associated with the 

 phalanx of the third digit ( = ad-digital remex). Of coverts we find, 

 both above and below, a row of major and of median coverts, the 

 latter separated by a considerable interspace from the marginals. 



On the dorsal surface of the wing (cf. test-fig. 78) major coverts 

 are present in connection with each remex and overlap the bases 

 of their corresponding remiges distalwards ; their insertions, which 

 at the base of the wing are distinctly on the pi-oximal side of their 

 corresponding remiges, shift outwards till at the farther end they 

 are as distinctly distal. 



An additional ' aquintocubital ' covert (text-fig. 81) is interca- 



