216 MERULID A. 
part of the body, but only from such parts of the skin as 
are least liable to be affected by the motion of the con- 
tiguous parts, such as the action of the limbs. 
“The feathers arise pretty equally on the head where 
there is no motion; and along the back, on the wings 
between joint and joint ; as also on the thighs and legs ; 
the whole forming a kind of partial coat of mail. As they 
do not arise from every part of the skin equally, they must 
be proportionately thick-set where they do arise. 
“The places of origin of feathers are very observable in 
a bird that has been plucked ; but still more so m young 
birds just feathering, more especially of such as have but 
little down, and of which the clumps of feathers, from their 
colour, as in the young Blackbird, present a great contrast 
with the skin. 
‘‘ In the interstices of the clumps of feathers, there are 
others disposed irregularly, but so sparmgly as not to in- 
terfere with the motion of the part.” 
The four preceding paragraphs, and the two representa- 
tions of the young of the Blackbird, while assuming the 
first or nestling feathers, are taken from the Descriptive 
and Illustrated Catalogue of the Physiological Series of 
Comparative Anatomy, contained in the Museum of the 
Royal College of Surgeons in London, Part II. vol iu. 
page 311. 
The upper figure shows the lines of young feathers on 
the side and under part of the lower mandible; the long 
line of feathers down each side of the breast, which by 
their growth and extension outwards and downwards cover 
the principal part of the under surface of the body; the 
extended line of flight feathers, partly concealed by the 
bend of the wing, and above them the various under wing- 
coverts. 
