The Descent of Man

to account for the imperfect condition of the
uppermost ocellus. I should add that on the
secondary wing-feather farthest from the body
all the ocelli are smaller and less perfect than on
the other feathers, and have the upper part of
the ring deficient, as in the case just mentioned.
The imperfection here seems to be connected
with the fact that the spots on this feather shew
less tendency than usual to become confluent
into stripes; they are, on the contrary, often
broken up into smaller spots, so that two or
three rows run down to the same ocellus.
There still remains another very curious point,
first observed by Mr. T.W. Wood (51. The
'Field,' May 28, 1870.), which deserves attention.
In a photograph, given me by Mr. Ward,
of a specimen mounted as in the act of display,
it may be seen that on the feathers which are
held perpendicularly, the white marks on the
ocelli, representing light reflected from a convex
surface, are at the upper or further end,