1903. ] JAPANESE LONG-TAILED FOWLS. 239 
March Ath.—Measuvred feathers, exactly four weeks since last 
measurement :— 
Cock A, longest feather............ 2 ft. 34 in. 
Cock B pe Peer SEE Soterarior 2 43 i 
The longest feathers in A were the two central rec trices, and 
these had almost entirely ceased growing since last measurement. 
They had grown 23 inches in four weeks. 
In B, on the other hand, the longest feather was the central 
rectrix on the right side, <a was still erowing and was | inch 
longer than the rectrices ‘of A. The left rectrix of B, which was 
pulled out, would have been somewhat longer. 
In Cock A there were now only two feathers with growing 
sheaths, both on the right side, all the rest having ceased to grow. 
In Cock B, on the other hand, there were sev eral coverts with 
growing sheaths, as well as the central rectrix of the right side. 
Mar ch 9th.—The two feathers still growing in Cock A were the 
central posterior covert on the right side and one next to this on 
the same side. They seemed to be about to stop growing. There 
were only five long feathers in Cock A, all the rest being shorter 
than the corresponding feathers in B. 
March 10th.— Another feather came out from Cock B today when 
the feathers were stroked ; it was the Ist anterior covert on the left 
side, and, although still growing, showed signs of cessation of growth. 
It was evident that the feathers, as noted abov e, were easily 
ulled out at this stage. Feather measured 1 ft. 97 in. (55°3 cm.). 
March \\th.—Still another feather pulled out of Cock B, Ist 
anterior covert of right side. It measured 1 ft. 8 in. 
March 16th. Age 9 months—The two feathers which were 
still growing in Cock A seemed now to have both ceased to grow, 
one of them certainly. The only other growing feather in this 
bird was the one on the left side which had sprouted i in place of 
the one pulled out. 
In Cock B four of the old feathers were still growing, namely, 
the right central rectrix, and three coverts on the left side, besides 
the new feathers sprouting in place of those pulled out. 
Many of the golden saddle-hackles in B had growing sheaths. 
One came out when they were being stroked the other day, and 
measured 7 inches in length. A few of the feathers of the same 
kind were growing in A, but most have stopped, and these hackles 
altogether were about 2 “inches shorter in A than in B. 
Between the saddle-hackles and the long tail-coverts there were 
a number of feathers which may be called transition feathers. 
They were flexible and projected upwards first and then drooped 
in an arch; the outer ends were steel-blue, the bases carried pure 
white down, which was exposed and was very ornamental to the 
bird. 
April 1st.—Measured the feathers, exactly four weeks since last 
measurement :— 
Longest feathers in A, central rectrices, ee 4} in. 
Longest feather in B, right central rectrix, 2 ft. 8 in. 
Proc. Zoo. Soc.—1903, Vou. I. No. XVI. 16 
