EXTERIOR PARTS OF BIRDS 



143 



little hairs, especially of the brows). "Crown" is often used as 

 the same thing as pilcum. The adjectives of the several words are 

 frontal, coronal or 'vertical, and occipital : pileum has none in use, 

 coronal l)eing said instead. 



" Side of the head " is a general term defining itself; it presents 

 for consideration several regions. The orbital or circiim-orbital region, 

 or simply the orbit (Lat. orbis, an orb, here the socket of the eyeball ; 

 Fig. 25, 3), is a small space forming a ring around the eye. It 

 includes the eye, and especially the eyelids (Lat. ixdpeljrce). The 

 })oints where these meet, in front and behind, respectively, are the 

 anti'vior canthus and posterior canthus (Gr. Kavdo^, kanthos, Lat. canthvs, 

 a tire). The orbital region is subdivided into supra-orhital, infra- 

 orbital, ante-orbited, and p)ost-orhital, according as its upper, under, 

 front, or back portion is desired to be specially designated. The 

 situation of the orbit varies much in different groups of birds ; it is 

 generally midway, as said above, l^ut may be higher or lower, 

 l^ressed on toward the bill, or pushed far up and back, as strikingl}^ 

 shown in the woodcock (Scolojxcx nisficula). In owls, the orbital 

 region is exaggerated into a great disk of radiating feathers, con- 

 ferring a peculiar jihysiognomy. The aurcd or auricidar (Lat. auris, 

 or auriculum, ear ; Fig, 25, 35) region lies about the external 

 opening of the ear, or meatus auditorius ; its position varies in heads 

 of different shapes, but it nearly always lies behind and a little 

 below the eye. Wherever located, it may be recognised at a glance, 

 by the peculiar texture of the feathers (the auriadars) which over- 

 lie the meatus. Doubtless to offer least obstacle to sound, these 

 are a parcel of loose- webbed little plumes, which may be collectively 

 raised and turned forward, exposing the orifice of the ear ; they 

 are extremely large and notable in those owls which have com- 

 plicated external ear-parts, and in such they form part of the great 

 facial disc. The term "temporal region" or "temj)le" is not often 

 used in ornithology, not being well distinguished from the post- 

 orbital space between eye and ear, and having nothing special about 

 it. At the lowermost back corner of the side of the head, generally 

 just behind and below the ear, may be seen or felt a hard protuber- 

 ance ; it is the sharpest corner-stone of the head, being the place 

 where the lower jaw hinges upon the skull. This is called the 

 " angle of the jaw ; " it is a good landmark, which must by no 

 means be confused with the "angle of the mouth," where the horny 

 parts of the beak come together. The lore (Lat. lorum, a strap, or 

 bridle; hence, place where the cheek-strap passes; Fig. 25, 2) 

 includes pretty much all the space between the eye and the side of 

 the base of the upper mandible ; a considerable part of it is simply 

 ante-orbital. Thus we say of a hawk, " lores bristly ; " and ex- 

 amination of a bird of that kind will show how large a space is 



