XV 



in the figure just referred to, and its independence from 

 tlic 1st metacarpal is established. 



It therefore became necessary to trace and identify this 

 same " covert " in other families of Birds^ and 1 quickly 

 discovered several intermediate conditions of its location. 

 In the Ptarmigan, for instance (fig. 5), it s1io\ys a ten- 

 dency to associate itself with the 1st metacarpal remex. 

 There is really no actual connection, and its position is 

 sufficiently definite to preserve its independent individuality. 

 This condition is therefore only a modification oi the same 

 that we saw above in the Duck. 



Fis". o. 





Cbc 



->s 



Carpal region of the right wkig of a Ptarmigan (Lngojms muius), 



showing the position of the carpal covert and remex. 



Letters as in previous figures. 



In justice to those observers who, like the late j\Ir. Wray, 

 considered this "'covert'^ to be intimately related to the 1st 

 metacarpal remex, and referred it to the series of median 

 coverts M'ith the function of a major covert, I must honestly 

 confess that at first sight this would seem to be the most 

 feasible explanation. It seemed to me that the only satis- 

 factory way of determining the question would be to clear 

 up the problem of the relationship of the major coverts with 

 their respective remiges on the manus. 



Mr. Wray, in his paper before mentioced, gives a figure 



