388 MJl. E. DEGEN ON ECDYSIS. 



young males one of two; also the single old female which represents the moult of this 

 series is asymmetrical for tlie metacarpo-digital portion ; and of the four young females 

 three are similarly affected. 



Tectrices tertise serii s. minores. 

 1. Superiures. 



Although this series of coverts is of minor importance to the flight-power of the 

 wing, the manner in which they moult is of some morphological consequence. 



Metacar;po-di(jital Portion. — On the manus the dorsal coverts of this series fre- 

 quently precede in moult the other satellites. This they generally do in the same 

 order as those of the higher series. But, as happens sometimes in the case of 

 their cubital equivalents, several of them make their appearance simultaneously. 

 They are unimportant for the covering of this part and of abortive growth. 



Cubital Portion. — ^Here these coverts are confined to a single row also. The typical 

 manner in which they are renewed imparts to them a special morphological feature, 

 which is of some value as regards the definition of the different series. 



Their moult differs markedly from their neighbouring rows of " marginal coverts " 

 on the patagium and of the true covert-feathers whose description has already been 



given. 



Their moult consists in a successive supply which begins with the innermost — 

 contemporaneously almost with that of the feathers constituting the " parapterum," 

 which latter in its turn follows that of the "humeral tract," — and ends Avith the 

 outermost. The coverts of this series do not take part in the grouping arrangement 

 which is so characteristic a feature in the major coverts and the medians — not even in 

 the fully adult. 



The tendency for simultaneous development of three and four feathers is very 

 prominent, and prevails more or less in every perennial moult. Whenever such is the 

 case, it invariably takes place from within outwards, viz. the 10th to the 1st. 



Furthermore, this mode of renewal distinguishes the row from the marginal series, 

 whose renewal, although following the same outward direction generally, takes place 

 in patches which begin on the anterior edge of the patagium, whence it spreads 

 over both the dorsal and the ventral side of the wing in such a way that the several 

 longitudinal rows are diagonally affected at the same time. 



Thus it is through the agency of the moult principally that their morphological 

 character as a row of covert-feathers can be equally established as being derived from 

 a different source than either the higher series or the marginals. Where, as for instance 

 in the more primitive forms of birds, the minors consist of several rows, these are 

 generally made conspicuous by reversed overlap, a feature which has so greatly 

 engaged the attention of Mr. Goodchild (27). 



