1916] Chandler: Structure of Feathers 251 



Shaft (fig. A). The portion of the quill distal to the superior umbilicus 

 upon which are borne the vanes. Synonyms: rhachis, used generally as 

 an alternative in heavier scientific writing. German synonym: Schaft, 

 of general use. 



Afteeshaft (fig. A). The ventral counterpart of the shaft plus its vanes 

 ("plate", see below), springing from the ventral lip of the superior 

 umbilicus, sometimes vestigial or absent. Synonyms: hyporhachis, used 

 as is rhachis for shaft; accessory plume (Sundevall, 1886). German 

 synonyms: Afterschaft, Nebenschaft (Gadow, 1891); Afterfeder (Studer, 

 1878), Afterschaft, only its shaft (Studer, 1878). 



Plate. A convenient term used by Mascha (1905), to designate the shaft 

 with both its vanes. Synonym: vexillum (Clement, 1876). German 

 synonym: Flache (Mascha, 1904). 



Vane (fig. A). That portion of the feather borne on one side of the shaft, 

 composed of barbs, usually with barbules. Inner vane, that which is 

 overlapped by the outer vane of the adjacent feather. Synonym: vexil- 

 lum, web, common alternatives (the vexillum of (;;iement, 1876, equals 

 plate), pogonium (Sundevall, 1886). German synonym: Fahne, of 

 general use. 



Barb (fig. B). A ramus or primary branch of the shaft plus its barbules 

 (Beebe, 1906; Headley, 1895, et al.); has been loosely used by many 

 authors to designate either the ramus alone, or the ramus with its 

 barbules. German synonyms: words used for ramus also loosely used 

 for barb; also Fiedern erster Ordnung (Haecker, 1896); Fiedern (Ahl- 

 born, 1896). 



dist. van. 



vi/. 



■prox. van. 



■idge. 1 ^ 

 pith.j 



Fig. B. Proximal half of barb of duck. Abbreviations: dist. v., distal vanule; 

 2irox. van., proximal vanule; r., ramus; vil., villi. 



Ramus (figs. B and C). A primary branch of the shaft, forming the main 

 stem or lamella of a barb, upon which are normally borne barbules. 

 Synonym: barb (see above); secondary quill (Mascha, 1905). German 

 synonyms: Aeste (Nitzsch, 1867; Gadow, 1891; Wiedersheim, 1909); 

 Strahlen (Studer, 1878; Davies, 1889); Fiederlamelle (Ahlborn, 1896); 

 Fasern (Cuvier, 1809); sekundare Kiele (Mascha, 1904). 



