A Study of the Structure of Feathers, With Reference to Their Taxonomic Significance

This article describes structure and comparative morphological study of feathers (plumage) with reference to the phylogeny (evolution), nomenclature (name) and taxonomy (classification) of birds. Topics include feather terminology, plumules (down, oil-gland, nestling), filoplumes, contour feathers (remiges, rectrices, ornamental, facila, ear coverts), color, production and albinism. The following orders and suborders are described: Struthioniformes, Rheiformes, Casuariiformes, Apterygiformes, Sphenisciformes, Colymbiformes, Procellariiformes, Ciconiiformes (Steganopodes, Ciconiae, Ardeae, Phoenicopteri), Anseriformes (Anseres, Palamedeae), Falconiformes (Cathartae, Gypogerani, Accipitres), Galliformes (Galli, Turnices), Crypturiformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes (Laro-limicolae, Pteroclo-columbae), Cuculiformes, Coraciiformes, Passeriformes. Bibliographic references date from 1809-1914. Numerous plates illustrating feather structure are included. This article is a reference for curators of natural history specimens (ornithology collections) and feather identification.