33G 
down the shaft, with its waxen excrescence, than the outer or 
white-tipped web, that the former extends considerably beyond the 
white, and this, apparently, in proportion to the fineness, or 
otherwise, of the wax-tip itself. A feature, which is scarcely 
noticed when the wing is closed. 
A. Wliite patcli on the outer web of secondary quills. 
B. Wax-like termination to shaft. 
Thus much then on the special feature, in this attractive species, 
from which the familiar name of Waxwing is derived; but without 
entering into any general description of the plumage, which is more 
or less accurately given in most ornithological works, I will confine 
my remarks to one or two points in the colouring of the wing 
feathers which attract special attention in examining a large series 
of specimens. First, as to tlie white or yellow patches at the 
extremity of the outer web of the primaries, ihese patches, 
in richly-coloured specimens, are of the most vivid yellow 
on the inner primaries, the two or three outer quills having 
the same markings less and less distinct, and either white or 
nearly so. In a large majority of cases the two longest primaries 
want this mark altogether, and the rest, graduating inwards, have 
the patch white, or more or less suffused with yellow. In this 
respect there is great variation in both sexes. In .some examples all 
the patches are white and mere narrow lines, but only in the most 
brilliant males are they of a rich gamboge yellow. Again, one of the 
surest indications of perfect plumage and constitutional vigour, in 
this species, is shown by what I have described in my list as the 
“return” margins* to the primaries, by which I mean the continuation 
of the light-coloured patch at the extremity of the outer web 
along the tip of the inner weh. This is usually white or tinged 
* These “return” margins, as Professor Newton informs me, are very 
plainly shown in Lister’s figure (Phil. Trans. [1G8.5], No. 175, fig. 9) of thefr.^t 
recorded English specimen. They are there visible on edjht of the rennges. 
