1915.] F Miller, Notes on Ptilosis. 131 
presence of the extra fifth covert fully developed. Philohela therefore 
gains a generic character, additional to those of the attenuated outer 
primaries, narrower outer rectrices and more graduated tail. It is not safe, 
however, to assume that Scolopax saturata (lately separated by Mr. Gregory 
Mathews as Parascolopax) and Neoscolopax rochusseni resemble Scolopax 
rusticola in this respect and both should be investigated. 
‘This isolated case of the eutaxial wing in a large and varied diastataxic 
group is further evidence of the derivation of the former type from the latter. 
The Rollers (Coractide) are said by Gadow and by Beddard to be eutaxic. 
Examination of two fresh and one mounted specimen of Coracias indicus 
(on which genus Gadow’s determination was based) one fresh C. garrulus, 
and a mounted specimen of Hurystomus afer prove that the typical Rollers 
(Coraciinee), at least, are diastataxic. Corapitta pittoides is apparently 
eutaxic but there was available only a mounted bird that did not permit of 
satisfactory examination. Leptosoma has not been investigated. 
Sclater (Ibis, 1890, p. 80) enumerates among the genera of Anisodacty- 
lous Picarians that he had found on examination to be “ quintocubital,” 
Podargus and Steatornis. Dr. Gadow (P. Z. S., 1888, p. 659) marks these 
two genera as undetermined. In his table of characters (Tierreich, 1893), 
and in Beddard’s diagnosis of the group, the Caprimulgi (including Podargus 
and Steatornis) are stated to be diastataxic. I have carefully examined 
one wing of a mounted specimen of each of the three following species: 
Podargus strigoides, Batrachostomus stellatus and Steatornis carvpensis and 
find each one clearly diastataxic, thus agreeing with the Caprimulgide. 
Not only is the superfluous fifth covert present but the peculiar proportions 
of the coverts observable in many birds with this type of wing is very evident 
in at least the first two genera, the fifth greater covert being disproportion- 
ately longer than the fourth, while the sixth is abruptly shorter than the 
fifth. 
The Hummingbirds (Trochilidz) are divided by Ridgway (Bds. N. and 
M. Amer., Pt. V, p. 303) into three subfamilies, based on differences in the 
nasal operculum and in coloration: — Phcethornithine or Hermits, Trochi- 
line, or typical Hummingbirds, comprising the vast majority of genera, and 
Lophornithine or Coquettes, etc. oe 
Gadow (1888 and 1893) marks the Hummingbirds eutaxic and Sclater 
(1890) states: “In the Trochilide the fifth c. r. is apparently present.” 
Subsequent authors have universally given this family as eutaxic, doubtless 
relying on the above statements. 
Two genera, Phathornis (P. guyt) and Glaucis, both belonging to the 
first subfamily, prove to be eutaxic; but the following, all 'Trochiline, are 
diastataxic, as determined by very careful examination, and it is probable 
