248 MR. J. T. CUNNINGHAM ON [ Mar. 17, 
1 ft. 22 in. long: had almost entirely ceased to grow, but had 
not been pulled out: it was a little over 2 feet long. 
Posterior Covert pulled out February 17th, 1902, when it was about 
2 feet long. Now still growing, and about 2 ft. 6 in. long. 
Central Rectrix: predecessor pulled out while growing on 
April 13th, when 2 ft. 9in. long: was still in full growth, and 
about 2 ft. 6 in. long. 
Left side of Tail. 
Central Rectrix: predecessor pulled out while growing on 
February 15th, when 2 ft. 41 in. long: was accidentally 
broken off on October 29th, but continued to grow from the 
base, and the basal portion is now about 7 inches long. The 
total length of the feather, if it had not been broken, would 
have been 3 ft. 04 in. 
Ist Anterior Covert: predecessor pulled out growing on 
March 10th, when 1 ft. 97 in. long: accidentally pulled out 
growing on December 9th, when 2 feet long. Its successor 
immediately sprouted again, and was just showing. 
There were thus in Cock B only three feathers left of the eight 
which had begun to grow before the moulting-season. The two 
longest of these were about 2 ft. 6 in. long, while the third was 
shorter and had ceased growing. 
The other feathers which began to grow after the moult were on 
the whole longer than the feathers in Cock A; and the difference 
between the tails in the two birds, the one artificially treated and 
the other left to nature, was sufficiently striking. 
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 
These observations extended only to the 2nd moult, or the first 
shedding of the adult plumage. 
They show that when the feathers are not pulled or artificially 
treated in any way, care being taken to protect them and prevent 
them from being accidentally pulled out, the growth continues 
till about the end of March, when it ceases, the quills of the feathers 
are formed in the normal way and the feathers are moulted nor- 
mally in the following autumn. 
On the other hand, when the feathers are pulled out in the 
spring, successors immediately sprout in their places, continue to 
grow till the following season, when they go on growing without 
moulting, except in some cases when growth may come to an end 
in the moulting-season. 
In the cock whose feathers were stimulated by pulling, growth 
did not go on at a more rapid rate, but continued for a longer time 
and produced a longer feather. Thus in Cock A, no growth took 
place after April Ist, and the maximum length was 2 ft. 43 in.; 
while in Cock B, growth continued till July 13th, and the 
maximum length was 2 ft. 94 in. 
