GLORRARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS. 781 



of a comb, as the toes of the grouse (Fig. 62), and the middle claw in 

 herons. (Fig. 37.) 



Pectoral. Relating to the breast (pectus). 



Perforate. Pierced through; said 'of nostrils which communicate with 

 one another by reason of the absence of a septum. (Fig. 67.) 



Pigment. Coloring-matter. 



Piscivorous. Feeding upon fish. 



Plumbeous. A deep bluish-gray color, like tarnished lead; lead-color. 



Postocular, Postorbital. Back of, or behind the eye. Postocular is 

 most used. 



Powder-down Feathers. Peculiar, imperfect feathers, which grow in 

 matted patches, usually on the spaces between the true feather-tracts; 

 characterized by a greasy texture and scurfy exfoliation. 



Primary. Any one of the quill feathers of the "hand-wing," or pinion, 

 usually nine to eleven in number. 



Primary coverts. The series of stiff coverts which overlie the bases of 

 the primaries. 



Pteryla. An area or tract of the skin on which feathers grow. A 

 "feather tract." 



Pterylosis. The plumage, considered with reference to its distribution 

 on the skin. 



Punctate. Dotted. 



Pupil. The central black (or dark blue) spot or disk of the eye, enclosed 

 within the iris. 



Quill. Sometimes applied to one of the primary feathers; strictly, the 

 hollow part of the shaft of a feather. 



Ramus. A branch or fork, as the ramus of the lower mandil:)le. 



Rectrix. One of the tail-feathers. (Used chiefly in the plural, rectrices). 



Remex. Any one of the longer flight feathers, (l^sed mainly in the 

 plural, remiges). 



Reticulate. Netted. Said of a tarsus covered with small, irregular 

 plates, giving a netted effect. (Fig. 56.) 



Rictal. Pertaining to the rictus. 



Rictus. The gape; the edges and corner of the mouth. 



Rounded. A rounded tail has the central pair of feathers longest, each 

 successive pair a little shorter. 



Rufous. A brownish red color; rust red. 



Rump. That part of the l)ack lying directly in front of the upper tail- 

 coverts. 



Russet. A bright tawii^-brown color, with a tinge of rusty. (Ridgway.) 



Scapular Region. The longitudinal area of feathers, usually well defined, 

 overlying the shoulder blade on each side of the back. 



Scapulars. The feathers of the scapular region. 



Scutellate. Coveted regularly and more or less completely with horny 

 plates or shields known as scutella, or scutes. (Fig. 54.) 



Scutellum. A scute or plate. The singular of scutella. 



Secondary Coverts. The greater wing-coverts. 



Secondaries. The fliglit feathers of the foreai'm, which are borne on the 

 ulna. 



Semilunar. Shaj^ed like a half-moon. 



Semipalmate. Half-wel)l)e(l; the welis ])etween the front toes reaching 

 not more than half-way to their ends. 



Serrate. Saw-toothod. 



