244 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
The examination of the wings of a Sparrow, recently taken 
from the nest when about ten days old, seems clearly to indicate 
that the so-called outer carpal covert replaces the tenth primary 
covert, and is homologous to that covert (which is absent); it 
certainly is identical with the feather which we accept as the 
tenth covert in the Canary and in other true Finches, as, for 
instance, in the Virginian Cardinal. 
In the Icterid@, which are said to differ from the Starlings in 
having only nine primaries, we have found the first primary in 
the Silky Cowbird, Brown-headed Troupial, Bobolink, Red- 
breasted Marsh-bird, Military and Yellow-shouldered Troupials, 
and Brazilian Hangnest; indeed, the first primary, with its upper 
covert, are so conspicuous in these large birds, that they can 
frequently be seen without even using a needle to separate them 
from the second primary. In the Motacillide, where the first 
primary is very small and lies close to the second, it might easily 
be overlooked, but that a feather nearly (if not quite) half an 
inch long should have escaped observation is inexplicable. 
