196

The tail-feathers of Snipe described Proc. Zoolog. Soc. 1858 - Have I indices?

Machæropterus genus allied to Pipa with shaft of wing-feathers, enlarged, globular & naked & hard - some of the birds of group make a whistling noise - is a masculine character

[in margin:] see abstract of Ibis

Mr Salvin showed me the attenuated & scimitar like first wing-feather in Curassow for same purpose. He showed me a Humming Bird with the same masculine character Proc. Zool. Soc 1867 p 160 & makes a whistling noise see Gould. In a pigeon Leptopila (?) in both sexes, same structures & makes whistling noise in flight. In such different birds, whether creation or development, such structures for such purposes surprising

Dec. 5 1867

Reference:

Wolley, John. 1858. On the snipes' "neighing" or humming noise, and on its tail-feathers' systematic value. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 26: 199-202. This article is the source for the woodcuts of snipe tail feathers in Descent 2: 63-64 although Darwin did not give a complete reference or refer to Wolley by name.

Salvin, Osbert. 1867. On some collections of birds from Veragua. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (1867): 129-161, pl. XIV. Darwin cited this in Descent 2: 64, n53: "Mr. Salvin, in 'Proc. Zool. Soc.' 1867, p. 160. I am much indebted to this distinguished ornithologist for sketches of the feathers of the Chamæpetes, and for other information."