AYES. 
69 
splint- system and the true endoskeleton_, as well as of the great 
importance of emhryological researches. 
ScLATER, P. L. Notes on the American Caj)rimulgid( 2 , Proc. 
Zool. Soc. 1866, pp. 123-145. 
In illustration of the arrangement of the group proposed hy the author in 
this valuable paper, which is fully treated of in the special part of our 
llecord, the phalangeal series in Antrostomiis, Nyctichomns, Stmtornis, Nycti-^ 
bins, and Fodarym are figured (pp. 124, 125), as well as the sterna of 
Caprimulgus, Nyctihiu^, and Podaryus (p, 12G). 
Tegetmeier,W. B. The Poultry Book. London : 1866. Imp. 
4to. [In course of publication.] 
No. VI. (for June) of this work contains (pp. 131-133) a very curious 
account of the assumption of female plumage ijy a Game Cock, whose repro- 
ductive powers were in no degree affected thereby. A woodcut of this rare 
abnormality is given. 
WiLLEMOES-SuHM, K-. VON. Brutendc Els ter albinos. Zoolog. 
Garten, 1866, pp. 76, 77. 
The circumstance of a pair of albino Pica curopcca breeding and bringing 
up their young is recorded, but at third-hand evidence. 
PTEBYLOLOGY. 
Eatio, Victor. Des diverses modifications dans Ics formes et 
la coloration des plumes. Mem. Soc. dc Phys. & dTIist. 
Nat. de Geneve, xviii. pp. 249-308, pis. i.-iii. Bull. Soc. 
Orn. Suisse, 1866, pp. 94-98. (Translated from Biblioth. 
Univers. March 25, 1866, pp. 244<-254). Ann. & Mag. Nat. 
Hist. 1866, xvii. pp. 361-367. 
This paper gives only the results of the author^s investiga- 
tions into this difficult subject. He defines a feather as con- 
sisting (1) of a stalk or primary axis, on the sides of which are 
arranged (2) barbs or secondary axes, having implanted upon 
them (3) numerous barbules or tertiary axes, beset by (4) small 
lateral booklets' or quaternary axes. Feathers are divided 
into two groups, in accordance with differences in their pigmen- 
tation, — the optical,^^ which furnish a brown pigment, and the 
ordinary containing variously coloured pigments ; to these, 
as laid dowii by Bogdanow (Rev. Zool. 1858, pp. 180, 181), 
M. Fatio adds two subdivisions, — mixed feathers dependent 
on the ordinary ones, and enamelled,^^ on the optical 
their chief distinctive characters ai’e furnished by the compara- 
tive distribution of the cortical substance, combined with the 
different pigmentation. On the observation of these four divi- 
sions are founded the following general laws : — 
(1) Of two successive axes, one is always developed at the 
expense of the other. 
