242 THK ZOOLOGIST. 
Some months ago the question arose between us as to the 
principal distinguishing characters of the Fringilline and Ploceine 
Finches, and (naturally) this difference of number in the pri- 
maries was the first structural point to be considered. Having 
a wing of the common Siskin and several wings of Waxbills 
and Mannikins, we examined the two types, and (to our un- 
bounded astonishment), discovered the first primary well deve- 
loped in both, but with this difference:—In the Fringillid bird 
the first primary was shorter than, and therefore completely con- 
cealed by, its upper covert; whereas in the Ploceid bird the 
first primary projected beyond its covert. 
Thinking it quite impossible that, if this fact were common 
to all examples of all species of the two families, it could have 
been so long overlooked, we have gradually accumulated the 
wings of various species in which the first primary was declared 
to be absent, and we are bound to say that, not only have we 
never failed to find it in any species which we have examined, 
but that in some species, such as the Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 
and the Canary (Serinus canaria), it is far better developed than 
in many of the Ploceid Finches. 
We have examined wings of the following species :— 
FRINGILLIDE. — Chrysomitris spinus, C. tristis, C. totta; | 
Serius icterus, S. canaria, S. leucopygius ; Carduelis carduelis ; 
Acanthis cannabina, A. rufescens; Fringilla colebs, F’. mon- 
tifringilla ; Passer domesticus ; Pyrrhula pyrrhula ; Gutraca 
cerulea; Chloris chloris; Cardinalis cardinalis; Alario alario. 
Moracituipm. — Motacilla melanope; Anthus trivialis, A. 
pratensis. 
Hirunpinipa.—Hirundo rustica. 
Being anxious to make no mistake, we were not content to | 
examine single examples, but, wherever possible, carefully — 
removed the lower coverts from several examples of each species; 
in no single instance did we fail to discover the small first 
primary, although in Motacilla melanope it is very minute and 
almost linear (narrowly hastate); in fact, we found it best 
developed in the Sparrow, and worst developed in the Grey 
Wagtail. ven yet, it seemed so strange that a feather which we 
always discovered easily should have been so long overlooked, | 
that we were not convinced, but determined to obtain undeve- 
