380 MR. E. DEGEN ON ECDTSIS. 



covert 7, wliich is in a nascent condition of growth, foreshadows the impending moult 

 of the remex with which it is associated. Coverts 5 and 6 appear to be the old 

 feathers as yet unaffected by moult. 



There is no necessity to dwell in detail upon all the remaining old individuals, as they 

 obey the law stated in the cases quoted above, which is that of perfected group-moulting 

 as it applies to the fiiglit-fcathers which occupy the cubital portion of the wing. 



Unlike the Avell-defined synchronism with which the upper major coverts keep pace 

 with the remiges of the hand-portion, there exists a marked contrast in the way they 

 make their appearance on the forearm, inasmuch as they follow the general tendency 

 ior moulting in advance of their allied remiges, irrespective of age. Through some 

 inexplicable agency, and for a much longer period — in fact, through nearly every moult 

 during the bird's life,— they adhere to the more primitive conditions of the first, or 

 fledgliiig livery. The only admissible inference to be drawn from this fact must be one 

 lai-gely in favour of this early endowment of wing-feathers to be a secondary provision 

 and of ontogenetic origin. 



2. Inferior es. 



Ifetacarpo-digital Portion. — The difficulties in following up the order of renewal 

 which this series adopts are greater than those attending the researches into the 

 previously considered upper series. The chief one arises from the circumstance 

 of the more protected position which they occupy on the inner side of the wing, and in 

 which they suffer less from the effects of wear than feathers which are constantly 

 exposed. Hence the greater difficulty for determining between old and new growth 

 in fully developed feathers. It is only when particles of the capsule within which they 

 were formed are still adhering to the recently renewed feather that the fact can be 

 ascertained, or where the renewal consists of feathers in a state of nascent growth. 

 We cannot expect to meet with the latter phase in any considerable number of 

 individuals alike, and therefore 1 could find positive evidence on this head only in 

 9 birds out of 25 specimens after deducting Nos. 26-32, which are in a state of actually 

 complete renewal or nearly so. 



With one exception only, viz., that of the old female No. 22, these specimens are 

 characterized by almost perfect bilateralism of symmetry on the two wings as regards 

 the hand-portion for the moult of this series of coverts. These are Nos. 1, 14, 111, 17, 

 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, and 25. According to their ages and sexes they range as follow:.: — 



Totals. 



Males. Old: Nos. 1, 17, 18, 20, 24, 25 6 



,, Young : No. 16 1 



Females. Old : No. 22 1 



„ Young: Nos. 14, 19 2 



By leaving out fram immediate consideration the old male No. 1, obtained in the 



