Nebraska Bird Review 
7 
TABLE 2 
MEAN GRO\mi OF flESTLING GOLDFINCHES 
Day 
N 
Span 
Between ^ 
Toe 1 and 3 
2 
Tarsus 
Total 
Length^ 
Lower 
Mandible'^ 
Gape Width 
at 
Commissural 
Points^ 
Mandible Tip - 
Nostril 
Opening 
0 
68 
8.5±0.1 
4.110.1 
32.5 
4.610.1 
6.010.1 
2.0 
1 
62 
9.510.1 
4.910.1 
37.510.5 
5.110.1 
6.510.1 
2.1 
2 
63 
11.5+0.1 
5.810.1 
42.010.5 
5.8 
7.010.1 
2.510.1 
3 
57 
14.010.2 
7.010.1 
46.510.5 
6.510.1 
7.510.1 
2.9 
4 
47 
16.510.2 
8.310.1 
51.010.5 
7.110.1 
8.010.1 
3.1 
5 
36 
19.510.2 
9.810.1 
56.010.5 
7.710.1 
8.510.1 
3.310.1 
6 
32 
21.510.2 
11.310.1 
60.010.5 
8.110.1 
9.010.1 
3.910.1 
7 
39 
23.010.2 
11.910.1 
64.010.5 
8.510.1 
9.010.1 
4.1 
8 
40 
24.010.1 
12.410.1 
67.010.5 
9.010.1 
9.010.1 
4.210.1 
9 
39 
24.510.1 
12.810.1 
71.010.5 
9.410.1 
9.010.1 
4.710.1 
10 
35 
25.010.1 
13.0 
75.010.5 
9.810.1 
9.010.1 
4.9 
11 
25 
25.010.1 
13.0 
79.010.5 
10.0 
9.010.1 
5.0 
12 
15 
25.010.1 
13.0 
82.511.0 
10.0 
8.510.2 
5.210.1 
13 
5 
25.010.2 
13.0 
85.Oil.Q 
10.0 
8.510.2 
5.610.2 
1 Mean length to nearest 0.5 iim 
2 Mean length to nearest 0.1 mm 
period. These index values are lower 
when compared to those found by 
Holcomb and Twiest (unpub., b) for 
the Redwing; .22 vs. .17, weight; .20 
vs. .18, wing; .12 vs. .10, toe span; 
.13 vs. .11, tarsus; .09 vs. .07, total 
length; .08 vs. .07, lower mandible; 
.04 vs. .03, gape width; .10 vs. .08, 
mandible tip to nostril. This might 
be expected since Goldfinches remain 
in the nest longer than Redwings. 
The greatest mean increments in 
weight were before rapid feather de¬ 
velopment occurred (Holcomb, 1968). 
Holcomb and Twiest (unpub., b) 
reported similar data for Redwings 
but Willson (1966) reported large 
increments in weight while feathers 
were developing in Yellow-headed 
Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthoce- 
phalus) nestlings. 
c. Projection, fringing and growth 
of feathers. Table 4 gives the per¬ 
cent of nestlings which had feather 
capsules projecting from the epider¬ 
mis or fringing on the ends. The 
alar tract is the first to project. The 
humeral, spinal, ventral and femoral 
are the next to project through the 
epidermis and the capital, crural and 
caudal are the last to project. The 
alar, humeral, spinal, ventral, crural 
and femoral tracts are fringed in 
all or most of the nestlings by day 
seven and some of the feathers in 
the capital and caudal tracts are 
fringed in most birds by day eight. 
Holcomb and Twiest (unpub. b) 
found the time of projection and 
fringing of feather tracts in Red¬ 
winged Blackbirds. The Redwings 
have feathers projecting and fring- 
