312 
MR. W. P. PYCRAFT ON THE BIRD’S WING 
great “ bunny” (a good old Norfolk word) on the forehead, which 
is so remarkable a feature in this species. But although he 
failed to locate the position of the animal’s brains, and was even 
deceived as to the formation of the skull, he penetrated through 
and remarked upon the fibrous mass, like the “pax-wax” of 
a bullock, which filled the space between the enormous maxillary 
crests and extended to the palate ; but he does not seem to have 
discovered that the anterior cavity in this swelling contains a con- 
siderable quantity of very pure oil, almost equal to spermaceti. 
I think it must be admitted that the two accounts penned 
two hundred and more years ago by these remarkable men evince 
an amount of intelligent observation and research which it would 
be difficult to find equalled even in the present day in simple country 
gentlemen, and we have reason to be proud of these fathers of 
Norfolk Natural Science. 
IV. 
THE BIRD’S WING, AND THE PROBLEM 
OF DIASTATAXY. 
By W. P. Pycraft, A.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 
Read 26th November, 1901. 
Of the many ornithological problems awaiting solution, perhaps 
the most puzzling, and the most fascinating, is that which deals 
with the mysterious absence of a quill feather from between the 
fifth pair of secondary wing-coverts. Consequently, I have made 
this subject what I may call the climax of the present paper. 
Perchance some members of the Society may have heard little 
or nothing hitherto of this remarkable fact, and may now, after 
the perusal of these pages, be induced to join in the endeavours 
which are being made to clear up the mystery. 
