670 



GLOSSARY. 



in. Fore part of the top of 

 the head, from the base 

 of the bill to the vertex 

 of the crowu. 



FoKENECK, n. A rather indefinite and 

 arbitrary term, variously applied, but 

 usually referring to the lower throat 

 and jugulura, though not infrequently 

 to the whole of the space included by 

 the chin, throat and jugulum. In 

 long-necked birds only does the term 

 become a definite application. 



FoRFicATE, a. Deeply forked, as the 

 tail of a Kite. 



FoKM, n. In a special sense, a sort of 

 non-committal term, frequently used 

 by modern writers to designate what 

 is of doubtful rank. Tiie term 

 "form" is thus used for what may 

 prove to be a species, or may be only 

 a race, but as to the rank of which 

 the author is iu doubt. 



Fossa, n. A ditch or groove. In de- 

 scriptive ornithology, used chiefly in 

 the plural, to denote the depressions 

 in which the nostrils are placed. 



Fossorial, a. Digging into tlie earth 

 for a habitation. (The burrowing 

 Owl, Speotijto cunicularia, is a fos- 

 sorial bird.) 



Foster Parent, n. A bird which has 

 reared the young of a parasitic spe- 

 cies. 



Foster Touxg, n. The young of a 

 parasitic species which has been 

 reared in the nest of another bird. 



Free, a. Said of a leg with the tibia 

 unconfined within the skin of the 

 body. 



Frenum, n. A bridle or marking about 

 the head, resembling or recalling a 

 bridle. 



Fringe, n. A lacerated marginal mem- 

 brane. 



Frontal, a. Pertaining to the fore- 

 head. 



FiiONTLET, n. The extreme anterior 

 portion of the forehead, usually dis- 

 tinguished by a difference of level 

 (usually more depressed) from the 

 forehead, as in the Woodpeckers. 

 When divided by the base of the cul- 

 men (as in the Woodpeckers), the 

 frontal points are called antim, 



Frugivorous, a. Fruit eating. 



Furcate, a. Forked. 



PusiFORM, a. Spindle shaped, or taper- 

 ing at each end. 



G. 



Gai.eate, a. Helmeted, or armed, or 

 ornamented with a frontal shield, as 

 the Gallinules, Coots, Cassowaries, 

 etc. 



Gallinacea, n. A name of the fowl 

 tribe, or order Oallineoe of some au- 

 thors. 



Gallinaceous, a. Belonging to the 

 order Gullinaceaor Gallinece, or that 

 which embraces the domestic fowl 

 and kindred birds; having the char- 

 acteristics or nature of the GiUlinece. 



Gape, «. The opening of the mouth. 



Gastr^um, n. The lower parts, col- 

 lectively. 



Gena, n. The cheek, or feathered por- 

 tion of the lower j aw. 



Genesis, n. In biological science, the 

 derivation or origin of a form, 

 whether by evolution or direct crea- 

 tion. 



Genetic, a. Pertaining to Genesis. 



Genus, n. An assemblage of species 

 which agree iu the possession of cer- 

 tain characters distinguishing them 

 from otherwise allied forms. (In 

 taxonomic value a genus ranks next 

 below a subfamily.) 



Genys, n. (Same as gonys, which see.) 



Geographical Variation, n. Modi- 

 fication of form or coloration, accord- 

 ing to change of locality or country. 

 (The majority of widely-distributed 

 species are more or less affected by 

 geographical variation, from varying 

 influences of climate and other sur- 

 roundings. Many species have evi- 

 dently sprung from geographical 

 races through the extermination of 

 intermediate specimens, or, in the 

 case of remote islands, by long and 

 complete isolation from the parent 

 stock. ) 



Gibbose, ) 



Gibbous, ) ' 



Gibbosity, n. A swelling or rounded 

 protuberance. 



Glabrous, a. Smooth. 



Gnathxdium, n. The branch or ramus 

 of the lower jaw, as far as it is cov- 

 ered by the horny sheath. (Chiefly 

 used in the plural.) 



Gonys, n. The keel or lower outline 

 of the maxilla or lower mandible, 

 from the tip to the point where the 

 rami begin to diverge. 



Swollen. 



