221 



term to denote what is understood in common language as a " kind of animal." Thus a 

 house cat is a species, whether Maltese, tortoise shell, or tabby, the dog, whether grey- 

 hound or spaniel is another, and a horse, whether Shetland pony or draught, is a third 

 (see page 5). 



Speculum. A somewhat rectangular patch of contrasting colour on the centre of the 

 upper siu^ace of the wing. It often shows metallic iridescence and is a common feature of 

 coloration in some families, as in the Ducks. 



Stripes. In ornithological descriptions, stripes always run lengthways of the bird ; 

 lines if across the body are spoken of as bars (see bars) . 



Sternum. The breast bone. In a bird a deeply keeled structure to which the wing 

 muscles are attached. 



Subspecies. In ornithological classification, synonymous with geographical race or 

 variety, denoting a division of the species usually correlated with geographic limitations. 

 It differs essentially from a full species by showing intergradations with allied races of equal 

 rank. Taking the horse as a representative species, the various breeds or strains, such as 

 Arab, Clydesdale, or Shetland pony are subspecies (see page 6, for discussion). 



Tarsus. The metatarsal bones of the foot fused together into a single bone. This is 

 what we popularly regard as the bird's leg but is properly the foot, extending between the 

 juncture of the toes and the end of the " drum stick." A comparison with the joints of the 

 human leg will make it obvious that the knee is between the " drum stick " and the 

 " second joint " of the fowl and that the first external joint on the bird corresponds with our 

 heel, the " feet " being true toes. 



Type. In zoological nomenclature the " type form " is that form first properly 

 described and named and the specimen from which the description was written is the type 

 specimen. It does not of necessity mean that the form is typical in the ordinary sense of 

 the word, though for convenience it is assumed to be so (see page 8). 



Vermiculation. In descriptions of plumage, vermiculation refers to fine, irregularly 

 wavy lines suggesting the pathways of innumerable small worms, from which the word is 

 derived. 



Vinaceous. Wine coloured. A pecuhar purplish pink shown or suggested in the 

 coloration of some birds. 



57172—151 



