same row, to a curious ornament, which cannot be called an ocellus, and
which I will name, from the want of a better term, an elliptic
ornament. These are shewn in the accompanying figure (Fig. 59). We
here see several oblique rows, A, B, C, D, etc. (see the lettered
diagram on the right hand), of dark spots of the usual character. Each
row of spots runs down to and is connected with one of the elliptic
ornaments, in exactly the same manner as each stripe in Fig. 57 runs
down to and is connected with one of the ball-and-socket ocelli.
Looking to any one row, for instance, B, in Fig. 59, the lowest mark
(b) is thicker and considerably longer than the upper spots, and has
its left extremity pointed and curved upwards. This black mark is
abruptly bordered on its upper side by a rather broad space of richly
shaded tints, beginning with a narrow brown zone, which passes into
orange, and this into a pale leaden tint, with the end towards the
shaft much paler. These shaded tints together fill up the whole inner
space of the elliptic ornament. The mark (b) corresponds in every
respect with the basal shaded spot of the simple feather described in
the last paragraph (Fig. 58), but is more highly developed and more
brightly coloured. Above and to the right of this spot (b, Fig. 59),
with its bright shading, there is a long narrow, black mark (c),
belonging to the same row, and which is arched a little downwards so as
to face (b). This mark is sometimes broken into two portions. It is
also narrowly edged on the lower side with a fulvous tint. To the left
of and above c, in the same oblique direction, but always more or less
distinct from it, there is another black mark (d). This mark is
generally sub-triangular and irregular in shape, but in the one
lettered in the diagram it is unusually narrow, elongated, and regular.
It apparently consists of a lateral and broken prolongation of the mark
(c), together with its confluence with a broken and prolonged part of
the next spot above; but I do not feel sure of this. These three marks,
b, c, and d, with the intervening bright shades, form together the
so-called elliptic ornament. These ornaments placed parallel to the
shaft, manifestly correspond in position with the ball-and-socket
ocelli. Their extremely elegant appearance cannot be appreciated in the
drawing, as the orange and leaden tints, contrasting so well with the
black marks, cannot be shewn.
[Fig. 60. An ocellus in an intermediate condition between the elliptic
ornament and the perfect ball-and-socket ocellus.]
459