GLOSSAEY 



OF THE 



PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL TERMS 



USED IN THIS WORK.* 



Abdomen Belly. 



Abdominal Pertaining to the belly said ol the ventral fins of 

 fishes when inserted considerably behind the pectorals, away 

 from the shoulder girdle. 



Abortive Remaining or becoming imperfect 



Acuminate Tapering gradually to a point. 



Acute Sharp-pointed. 



Adipose fin A peculiar, fleshy, fin-like projection on the backs 

 of Salmons, Cat Fishes, etc., behind the dorsal fin. 



Air bladder A sac filled with air, lying beneath the back-bone a? 

 fishes, corresponding to the lungs of the higher vertebrates 



Allantois An organ of the embryo. 



Altrices Birds reared in the nest and fed by the parents. 



Altricial Having the nature of Altrices. 



Alula The feathers attached to the " thumb " of a bird. 



Alveolar surface A. portion of the jaw of a turtle, where the 

 teeth-sockets (alveola) might be expected to be. 



Amnion An organ of the embryo. 



Amphiccdian Biconcave said of vertebrae. 



Anadromous Said of marine fishes which run up rivers to spawn. 



Anal Pertaining to the anus or vent. 



Anal fin The fin on the median line, behind the vent, in fishes. 



Anal plate The plate, immediately in front of the vent, in ser- 

 pents. 



* In the preparation of this Glossary, the author has largely drawn from 

 Dr. Coues' " Glossary of the Technical Terms used In Descriptive Ornithology," 

 in Baird, Brewer and Ridgway's History of .North American Birds, Vol. III. 

 pp. 535560. 



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