20 INTRODUCTION. 



forked, forjicate. A cuneate tail is the exact opposite to one 

 forficate. 



The tarsus, often called the " leg," extends from the base of 

 the toes to the first joint above, and in a majority of birds is 

 unfeathered. If without scales in front (unless near the bot- 

 tom) it is " booted," or if with scales, scutellate. (If covered 

 with very small scales which do not overlap one another, it is 

 reticulate; or it may be granulated as in the Fish Hawk.) 



The following is a vocabulary of several other descriptive 

 terms. Auriculars (or ear-patch), the feathers behind, but a 

 little below the level of the eye. Circumocidar, about the eye. 

 Crown, top of the head (usually above the eye). Eye-patch, 

 a tract of color enclosing the eye. Eye-stripe, a line running 

 through the eye (so to speak). Interscapidars, feathers on the 

 back between the wnng-shoulders, or between the head and 

 rump. 7m, (pi. irides), a colored circle enclosing the pupil 

 of the eye. Lore, the feathers about the base of the bill, or 

 between the bill and the eye. Maxillary line, one running 

 backward from the gape, and bordering the throat. Median 

 line, one dividing the crown. Nape (or nuchcd patch), the 

 hind-head (properly above the cervix, or hind-neck). Super- 

 ciliary line, a stripe immediately above the eye. Verniicula- 

 tion, very fine "waves." ^ s\gmG.es the male, $ the female; 

 = signifies " equal to," ^ " more than," and <^ " less than." 

 "Inch" or "inches" is abbreviated to in., and decimal num- 

 bers (written with a dot before) generally indicate hundredths 

 of an inch. 



Except where there are indications to the contrary, the 

 "upper parts " generall}^ include the upper surface of tlie 

 wings and tail, though the "under parts" frequently refer to 

 the body only. The " crown" includes the forehead (or even 



