FEATHERS 9 



these, which successively overlap each other and the remiges. 

 The first series on the upper aspect of the wing are the 

 tectrices majores, which have a perfectly definite relation to 

 the remiges, there being one for each remex. To this state- 

 ment there is in the duck a single exception ; this exception 

 is the fifth cubital (reckoning, as it is customary to do, from 

 the carpus) ; this r^mex appears, by reason of the fact that 

 there is a gap and that the tectrix is present, to be absent. 

 On the under surface of the wing there is a corresponding 

 row of lower tectrices majores. It will be noticed that the 

 reference of the remicle to the series remiges is justified by 

 its having its proper complement of tectrices majores. 



Next to the tectrices majores comes a row of feathers, 

 -the tectrices medim. These are also present on the under 

 surface ; the set of both, however, is not complete, that of 

 the second metacarpal being wanting on the upper surface, 

 and the distal four or five of the manus on the lower surface. 

 The next row on the upper face of the vying is quintuple, 

 and the feathers composing the five tiers are known as 

 the tectrices minores. They are scantily represented on 

 the manus, where in fact there is not room for them, they 

 being developed on the skin covering the muscles and on 

 the patagium of the wing. This row of feathers passes on 

 to the hurnerus and becomes there partly specialised into 

 two rows ; the lower of these (sometimes called parapteron) 

 are long feathers suggestive of remiges, while the row im- 

 mediately above bears the same relation to the pseudo- 

 remiges as the tectrices majores do to the true remiges. On 

 the ventral surface of the wing are similar tectrices minores 

 with a similar specialisation of an hypopteron (representing 

 the parapteron above, and sometimes called axillaries), with 

 its row of special coverts. The patagium is mainly filled 

 up with several rows of feathers, which are collectively 

 termed the marginals ; anteriorly,* upon the pollex, they 

 form together with the anterior feathers of the minores the 

 so-called ala spuria. The ala spuria is specialised into four 

 small quills with coverts, the specialisation being quite like 

 that of the humerals at the other extremity of the yving. 



