| OCR Text |
Show 1901.] PTERYLOSIS OF THE GIANT HUMMING-BIRD. 317 are not clearly disconnected from, the row of stiff and prominent feathers already described above the eye ; the lower surface of the eyelid bears one row of feathers internal to them. The large auditory aperture, whose lower border is very distinctly produced and everted, is surrounded by a conspicuous fringe of feathers; this line of feathers around the ear is not distinctly connected with any of the other rows. On the outer side of the lower mandible, parallel with the vibrissa?, a double row of ' ramal' feathers runs backward towards the angle of the jaw ; the outer row of this double series is in very close relation, if not in direct connection, with the feathers of the auditory ring. The interramal ' chin-feathers ' are sparse and are separated from the mandibular or ramal area by a wide interval. It will be found that this account is very similar to Mr. H. L. Clark's account of Phalcenoptilus nuttalli. Bearing in mind the general features and minor difference in other genera of Caprimul-gidae, as described by Mr. Clark, I think we may say that there is a somewhat surprising resemblance between the pterylosis of the head in these forms and in our Humming-bird. The linear arrangement of the feathers is in a general way comparable ; the median frontal apterion is well marked and the occipital one is indicated in the Goatsuckers ; the main row of feathers over the eye is similar in both, and both have the complete circle of eyelashes, though these differ in appearance, being complete small feathers in the Humming-bird, and not single stiff ' cilia ' as in the Goatsucker. The connection between the auditory ring of feathers and those of the regions anterior to it is not very clear in either case, and would seem to be slightly different in the two according to m y description and figures; the strong vibrissa? of the Goatsucker have no counterpart in the Humming-bird ; but, apart from these differences, the resemblance between the two forms seems to me very noteworthy, and the more noteworthy and the more puzzling, in being apparently much greater than the resemblance of either form with the Swift. THE PTERYLOSIS OF THE WING. The Humming-birds are universally described as possessing ten primaries and six secondaries. As a matter of fact, Patagona possesses a distinct but minute seventh inner secondary. The fourth primary from the end of the wing, that is to say the seventh reckoning from within outwards, is associated with the phalanx of the third digit ( = ad-digital remex). Of coverts we find, both above and below, a row of major and of median coverts, the latter separated by a considerable interspace from the marginals. O n the dorsal surface of the wing (cf. text-fig. 78) major coverts are present in connection with each remex and overlap the bases of their corresponding remiges distalwards ; their insertions, which at the base of the wing are distinctly on the proximal side of their corresponding remiges, shift outwards till at the farther end they are as distinctly distal. A n additional ' aquintocubital' covert (text-fig. 81) is interca- |
