262 



BIRDS OF AMERICA 



Scapular region. The longitudinal area of featliers 

 overlyiiiR the shoulder blade. 



Scapulars. The feathers of the scapular region; 

 shoulders. 



Scutellum [plural, scutella]. Ascute or plate or 

 shield. 



Seasonal. Pertaining to or occurring with the 

 change of the seasons. 



Secondary. Any of the flight feathers of the fore- 

 arm. 



Secondary coverts. The greater wing-coverts. 



Secretive. Inclined to keep out of sight; retiring to 

 a degree. 



Semi-. A prefix meaning half, partly, or imperfectly. 



Semi-lunar. Like a half -moon in shape. 



Semipalmate. semipalmated. Having the front toes 

 wel)l)cd only half, or part, way to their ends. 



Semi-pensile. Partly hanging or suspended. 



Serrate, serrated. Saw-toothed ; notched like a saw 

 on the edge. 



Setaceous. Bristled ; bristly. 



Shaft. The horny axis or stem of a feather. 



Sibilant. Hissing; making a hissing sound. 



Sinuate, sinuated. With the edge cut away less 

 abruptly than when emarginate. 



Skin. In zoology, the skin of a bird or animal with 

 its coverin.g of feathers or fur and other external parts. 

 as the bill and feet. 



Soporific. Tending to cause sleep. 



Species. A group of animals possessing in common 

 certain characters which distinguish them from other 

 similar groups; a distinct sort or kind of animal. 



Speculum. A mirrorlike or brightly colored area on 

 the wing of certain Ducks. 



Stock species. Same as type species. 



Sub-basal. Almost or nearly at the base. 



Sub-caudal. Under the tail. 



Sub-marginal. Nearly at the margin or edge. 



Sub-orbital. Below the eye. 



Subspecies. A variety or race ; a form connected 

 with other forms of a species by individuals possessing 

 intermediate characters. 



Subterminal. Almost at the end. 



Subtropical. Of or pertaining to the regions border- 

 ing on tlie tropics; nearly tropical. 



Subtruncate. Terminating abruptly. 



Superciliary. Above the eye. 



Superior. Upper ; topmost ; uppermost. 



Supraloral. Above the lores. 



Supra-orbital. Above the eye. 



Tail-coverts. The feathers which cover the base of 

 the tail, above and below. 



Tarsus [plural, tarsi]. The shank of a bird's leg. 



Taxidermist. One who prepares, stufTs. and mounts 

 in lifelike form the skins of animals. 



Terminal. At the end or tip. 



Terminology. The special terms used in any science. 



Terrestrial. Inhabiting or belonging to the ground 

 or land in distinction from water, trees, etc. 



Tertiaries. The inner secondaries. 



Tibia. The part of the leg next above the shank ; 

 the " drumstick." 



Transverse. Crosswise. 



Traversed. Crossed. 



Truncate, truncated. Cut squarely off. 



Tuberculated. Having tubercles, that is, small knob- 

 like prominences on some part of an animal. 



Tumid. Enlarged ; distended ; swollen. 



Type. Typical form. A type species is that form 

 used as the basis for the original description of a species. 

 A type genus is that genus from which the name of the 

 family or subfamily to which it belongs is formed. 



Under tail-coverts. The feathers covering the base 

 of the tail below. 



Under wing-coverts. The coverts of the under sur- 

 face of the wing. 



Uniform. Entirely of the same color or shade, as 

 " uniform sooty-black." 



Upper tail-coverts. The feathers overlying the base 

 of the tail above. 



Vent. The anus. 



Vermiculate, vermiculated. Marked with fine wavy 

 lines like worm-tracks. 



Vernacular. Term used in the sense of common, as 

 opposed to scientific. 



Vernal. Pertaining to spring. 



Vertex. The crown; the central part of the top of 

 the head. 



Vinaceous. Wine-colored. 



Visitor. Any bird found, regularly or irregularly, 

 in a certain district at certain seasons only, as spring, 

 summer, autumn, or winter; not a permanent resident. 



Volunteer. Self-sown. 



Web. The series of barbs on each side of a feather. 



Zone. A broad band of color completely encircling 

 the body of a bird. 



