GLOSSARY 



261 



Lower tail-coverts. The leathers overlapping the 

 ba^e of the tail-feathers beneath. 



Maculate. Spotted ; blotched. 



Malar region. The side of the lower jaw behind the 

 huin.v cijvernig of the mandible; cheek region. 



Mammal. .An animal the female of which suckles 

 her young. 



Mandible. Either of the jaws of a bird's bill. 



Mantle. A term used to include tlie back, the 

 scapulars, and the upper surface of the wings. 



Marine. Pertaining to, existing in. or formed by the 

 sea. 



Maritime. Living or found near the sea ; bordering 

 on the sea. 



Mat. The lining of down in the nest of a Duck. 



Maturity. State of being mature; havin,g attained its 

 complete adult plumage. 



Maxilla [plural, maxillae]. The upper jaw; — used 

 loo>ely for either jaw. 



Median, Medial. .Along the middle line. 



Melanism. .Xn unusual development of black or 

 nearly black color in the plumage. 



Melanistic. Affected with or showing melanism. 



Middle wing-coverts. The coverts between the 

 greater and the lesser coverts. 



Migrant. Any bird found in certain districts during 

 migration only. 



Migratory. Moving, either occasionally or regularly, 

 from one climate or region to another. 



Milliped, millipede, milleped, millepede. .\ny one 

 of tlie insects commonly known as thousand legs. 



Mollusks. Shellfish such as clams, oysters, whelks, 

 etc. 



Molt. The periodical shedding or casting of the 

 feathers. 



Monogamous. Mating with only one of the opposite 

 sex. Compare polygamous. 



Mustache. A conspicuous stripe of color beneath the 

 eye; maxillary line. 



Nail. The horny plate or tip on tlie beak of Ducks 

 and certain other birds. 



Nape. The part of the hindneck back of the occiput; 

 the nucha. 



Nidicolous. Reared for a time in the nest. 



Nidification. Nest building. 



Nocturnal. Moving about at night; done or occur- 

 ring in the night. 



Nucha. Xape. 



Nuchal. Relating to the nucha or nape. 



Nuptial plumes. Ornamental feathers acquired at 

 the approach of the breeding season, and molted at its 

 close. 



Obscure. Indistinct ; ill-defined. 



Obsolete. Indistinct. 



Occipital. Relating to the occiput. 



Occiput. The back part of the head. 



Ocellated. Like, an eye or ocellus ; having ocelli, as 

 part'- of the plumage in certain birds. 



Ocellus [plural, ocelli]. .An eye-like spot of color. 



Ochraceous. Of the color of other; resembling 

 ocher. 



Olivaceous, Olive-colored; of an olive-.grecn color; 

 re^rnililiiig the olive. 



Omnivorous, Eating both vegetable and animal food. 



Oological. Pertaining to oiilogy, or the study of 

 eggs. 



Opaque, \\'ithout gloss ; dull ; not transparent. 



Order. A group of families agreeing in certain 

 characters. 



Ornithological. Pertainmg to ornithology. 



Ornithologist. .A student of ornithology. 



Ornithology. The tranch of zoology which treats 

 of birds; a treatise on the study of birds. 



Pectoral. Relating to the breast. 



Pelagic. Oceanic; living on or at the surface of the 

 sea far from the coast. 



Pellet. A small ball, ejected from the mouth by 

 certain birds, and containing the non-digestible portions 

 of their prey. 



Pendulous. Hanging downward ; suspended loosely ; 

 swinging. 



Pensile. Suspended; hanging, as the nests of certain 

 birds. 



Perforate. Pierced through. 



Piscivorous. Feeding on fish. 



Plicate. Folded like a fan. 



Plumage. The entire covering of feathers. See, 

 also, eclipse plumage, Juvenal plumage. 



Plumbeous. Of a deep bluish-gray color; lead- 

 colored. 



Plumelets. Small plumes. 



Plumicorns. Ear-tufts; popularly called Ikjtus or 

 ears. 



Polygamous. Having more than one mate at one 

 time. Compare monogamous. 



Polygamy. The habit of having more than one mate 

 at the same time. 



Post-nuptial. Occurring after the breedin.g season, 



Postorbital. Back of or behind the eye, 



Precocial, praecocial. Covered with down and able 

 to run about when newly hatched. 



Predacious. Preying on other animals. 



Primary. .Any one of the quill feathers of the 

 pinion. 



Primary coverts. The stiff coverts which overlie the 

 liases of the primaries. 



Produced. Extended. 



Proximal. That end of a feather or limb which is 

 nearest to the point of attachment; — the opposite of 

 distal. 



Psilopasdic. Young are nakeil when hatclied, and 

 are fed by parents. 



Ptilopaedic. Young are feathered. 



Pupa [plural, pupae]. In insects the stage between 

 the larva and the adult stage. 



Pupil, The central spot or disk of the eye, enclosed 

 within the iris. 



Quill feathers. The priinaries. 



Rectrix [plural, rectrices], A tail-feather. 



Recurved. Bent upward; — used of a bird's bill. 

 Compare decurved. 



Regurgitation. The casting out (of food) from the 

 sti>mach and mouth. 



Remex [plural remiges]. .Any one of the lon.ger 

 flight feathers. 



Resident. Any bird that stays in a certain di^^trict 

 permanently. 



Reticulate. Netted ; resembling network. 



Rictal. Pertaining to the rictus. 



Rictus. The edges and corner of the mouth; the 

 gape. 



Rufescent. Tinged with red ; reddish. 



Rufous. Brownish-red ; rust-colored. 



