1903. ] JAPANESE LONG-LTAILED FOWLS. 245 
came out when I stroked the feathers: these were all feathers of 
completed growth, which came out in consequence of the moult. 
In the light-coloured hen, nearly all the rectrices and some of the 
coverts came out when I tried them. The two central rectrices 
in the hen were longer than the others, slightly curved downwards 
at the tip, and speckled with brown at the borders: length 
22°5 em. (9 inches) without quill. The other rectrices were broader 
and black, length 19°5 em. (8 inches) without quill: the quill was 
1:8 em. in length. 
Sept. 6th.—More tail-feathers moulted from Cock B_ this 
morning. The 2nd anterior covert on left side pulled out on 
May 27th had just begun to appear, so that renewed growth was 
deferred till the moulting-season. 
Sept. 7th.—Nearly all the rectrices and longer tail-coverts which 
had completed their growth had now been moulted in Cock B. 
T had pulled many of them out without violence when they were 
loose. By looking at the base of the feathers, I could see when 
they were loose, because the transparent hollow quill was pushed 
out and was visible beyond the socket. 
In Cock A only four of the rectrices and none of the longer 
coverts have been moulted spontaneously. 
The left central rectrix in Cock B, which was still growing, 
measured today 2 ft. 04+ in., or had grown not quite 4 inches in 
four weeks. 
Sept. 18th. Age 1 year 2 months.—Today, when taking up 
Cock A to examine him, I accidentally trod upon the growing 
feather the predecessor of which had been pulled out on Feb. 10th. 
It was one of the anterior coverts on the left side, possibly the 
first. The feather broke off at the top of the sheath, the latter 
remaining in the socket. It was nearly 18 inches long (44°5 em.), 
and would probably continue to grow from the same base. 
This cock had still six long feathers not moulted, namely: the 
central rectrices, the 2nd pair of rectrices, and two posterior 
coverts. 
In Cock B the fourth anterior covert on the right side, the 
outer of the three growing again, was coming to an end of its 
growth, showing downy barbs at the base, and it would be curious 
to see if it were moulted. 
This fact is worthy of particular notice, for it proves that a 
feather which replaces one pulled out before the moulting-season 
does not necessarily continue to grow through that season, and 
it raises the question whether feathers which are growing when 
the moulting-season begins, necessarily grow longer or for a 
longer time than those which are moulted in the natural way. 
This question is answered to some extent by the subsequent 
observations. 
At the end of September I ceased to reside at Penzance and 
came to London, and having obtained permission through my 
friend Mr. F. KE. Beddard, F.R.S., to deposit the fowls at the 
Society's Gardens, | took them there on Oct. Ist. They were 
