Arthur Gardiner Butler & Arthur George Butler

“ In the Icteridæ, which are said to differ from the Starlings in having only nine primaries, we have found the first primary in the Silky Cowbird, Brown-headed Troupial, Bobolink, Tedbreasted Marsh-bird, Military and Yellow-shouldered Troupials, and Brazilian Hangnest; indeed, the first primary, with its upper covert, are so conspicuous in these large birds, that they can frequently be seen without even using a needle to separate them from the second primary. ”

“ Thinking it quite impossible that, if this fact were common to all examples of all species of the two families, it could have been so long overlooked, we have gradually accumulated the wings of various species in which the first primary was declared to be absent, and we are bound to say that, not only have we never failed to find it in any species which we have examined, but that in some species, such as the Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the Canary (Serinus canaria) , it is far better developed than in many of the Ploceid Finches. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1925, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 98 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”