BIRDS-GRADATION OF CHARACTERS. 



431 



ocellus, and which I will name, from the want of a better term, 

 an "elliptic ornament." These are shown in the accompanying 

 figure (fig. 59). We here see several oblique rows. A, B, C, D, 

 &c. (see the lettered diagram on the right hand), of dark spots 

 of the usual character. Each row of spots runs down to and is 

 connected with one of the elliptic ornaments, in exactly the 

 same manner as each stripe in fig. B7 runs down to, and is con- 

 nected with one of the ball-and-socket ocelli. Looking to any 



Fig. 59. Portion of one of the secondary wingr-feathers near to the 

 body, showing the so-called elliptic ornaments. The right-hand fig- 

 ure is given merely as a- diagram for the sake of the letters of 

 reference. 



A, B, C, D, &c. Rows of spots running down to and forming the elliij- 

 tic ornaments. 



b. Lowest spot or mark in row B. 



c. The next succeeding spot or mark in the same row. 



d. Apparently a broken prolongation of the spot o in the same row B. 



one row, for instance, B, in fig. 59, the lowest mark (b) is thicker 

 and considerably longer than the upper spots, and has its left 

 extremity pointed and curved upwards. This black mark is 

 abruptly bordered on its upper side by a rather broad space of 

 richly shaded tints, beginning with a narrow brown zone, which 

 passes into orange, and this Into a pale leaden tint, with the end 

 towards the shaft much paler. These shaded tints together till up 



