204 
FRANCIS H. HERRICK 
9. THE QUILL STAGE 
One of these birds in the complete quill stage (fig. 6) which is 
reached on the 6th or 7th day, was 111 millimeters (4t inches) 
long, and weighed 31.68 grams (no. 1, table 2), in the space 
of 7 days having increased fourfold in weight and more than 
doubled in length. It now bristles like a porcupine in every 
feather-tract. The steel gray quills correspond in position, to 
the white 'hairs' which, as we have seen, they push out and 
for a time bear at their tips, Hke a short whip on a long stalk. 
Both in length and in diameter these tubes have increased many 
TABLE 2 
Rate of growth in the cuckoo 
NO. OF 
EGG 
OR 
BIRD 
DATE, 1908, AUGUST 
1 
0 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
1 
2 
3 
\ 
Weight j 
7.56 
6.66* 
7.02* 
11.16 
6.66* 
7.02* 
16.20 
9.00 
7.02* 
21.24 
12 . 60 
7.02* 
25.2028.1631.68 
19 . 80 22 . 68 26 . 28 28 . 0839 . 60 
7.20 , 1 
1 
2 
3 
Length of { 
body \ 
(stretched) ^ 
54 
29X22* 
30X22* 
64 
29X22* 
30 X 22* 
73 
59 
30X22* 
83 
69 
30X22* 
90 
76 
20 
100 
85 
111 
95 
106 
113 
1 
2 
3 
Length, wing | 
I 
15 
20 
25 
17 
31 
23 
32 
28 
17 
38 
31 
43 
36 
43 
43 
45 
45 
1 
2 
3 
Length, | 
tarsus 1 
10 
12 
12 
17 
14.5 
17 
15 
10 
19 
17.5 
20 
19 
20 
22 
1 
2 
3 
r 
Length, long- j 
est primary | 
5 
5 
7 
4 
11 
6 
16 
8 
3.5 
20 
11.5 
25 
16 
21 
28 
1 
2 
Length, tail- i 
quills \ 
2 
0 
3.5 
0 
6 
1.5 
8 
2 
8 
3.4 
11 
6.5 
15 
9 
13 
16 
*Egg. Measurements in grams and millimeters. 
fDisappeared from nest. 
