582 
was first prominently drawn to it by Mr. Henry Stevenson, in 
‘ Birds of Norfolk’ (vol. i. p. 421), and I cannot do better than 
summarize his description of one in his collection, killed at Lakenham 
near Norwich. — Upper parts of the plumage reddish orange, over 
shades of greyish black, this singular appearance being caused by 
each feather having the basal half black, the anterior portion only 
having a reddish hue. Sides of the head dull black, slightly tinged 
with greyish white, as also the chin and throat. Under parts 
greyish white. The whole of the plumage resembling rather hair 
than feathers, owing to the absence of the harhules from the anterior 
portion of the vane of each feather. 
The barbs of the feathers of an ordinary Moorhen may be 
described in the same terms as the feathers of any other bird. 
They are narrow, tapering, and fixed at their basis to the stem of 
the feather on either side. The interstices between the barbs are 
filled up by the barbules, pointed processes, which stand in the 
same relation to the barbs as the barbs do to the stem.'*’ In the 
“hairy” Moorhen, these barbules are wanting. This is apparent 
to the naked eye ; but we fortunately have the result of a 
microscopical examination. Mr. F. Ivitton, who contributed some 
notes to the ‘Birds of Norfolk’ (he.), has since examined two more 
specimens. No. 4 and No. 1 1 of my list. Speaking of Mr. Stevenson’s 
bird, — No. 6, — he considers that the absence of the barbules has 
produced the alteration in colour and the rough appearance of the 
bird, and that this hair-like or worn condition of plumage may bo 
accounted for by inability to perform the usual moult. He further 
considers that the barbules of the feathers have been broken off ; 
and that this operation has been caused, or at any rate assisted, 
by the Moorhen’s preening itself. In some notes laid before 
the Society, referring to the specimen now under consideration, 
Mr. Kitton says: “I first examined the barbules with a low 
power, which however did not display much beyond their hair-like 
structure, and the internal cells. I afterwards macerated the 
feather in a weak solution of caustic potash, and proceeded to 
examine it with a higher magnifying power, — one of 400 diameters, — 
* Cf. Professor Parker’s description of Integument and Feathers, in 
the article “Birds” (‘ Eiicyclopsedia Britannica,’ vol. iii. p. 727). Some of 
Professor Parker’s remarks are taken from Professor Huxley’s ‘ Anatomy of 
Vertebrated Animals.’ 
