GLOSSAEY OF SPECIAL TEEMS 65 



Primary (wixg) Coverts — The series of rather stifif covering feathers overlying 



the bases of the primary flight feathers. 

 EuFF — A bunch of elongated feathers on the sides of the neck, which by reason 



of their length (and often color) stand out distinctly from the surrounding 



feathers. 

 Rump — That portion of the upper surface of the body lying just forward of the 



base of the tail between the back and upper tail coverts. 

 Rump Patch — Any contrasted area of color occurring on the rump, or upper 



tail coverts, or both. 

 Scales — The small horny plates on the tarsus or "leg" of birds; in the duck 



and shorebird families the shape of these plates is important in classification. 

 Scapulars — The group of feathers at either side of the back, on the "shoulder," 



just above the wing; they often overlie some of the tertial feathers. 

 Secondaries — The next to the outermost series of flight feathers on the wing; 



they are attached to the middle section of the wing (the "forearm") and 



form a series continuous with that formed by the primaries. 

 Shaft (of a feather) — The quill or midrib to which the two webs are attached. 

 Shaft Streak — A line or narrow stripe of contrasting color running lengthwise 



along the middle of a feather. 

 Side (of body) — The area on either side, between the "arm-pit" and flank, 



and back and belly. 

 Speculum — A brightly colored area on the terminal portions of the outermost 



secondary wing feathers of most ducks. 

 Spur- — A horn-covered projection on the back of the tarsus of the male Ring- 

 neck Pheasant and of the male Wild Turkey. 

 Square-exded (tail) — Said of a tail in which the feathers are of such lengths 



that when lying parallel they end evenly; not wedge-shaped or pointed. 



Streak] 



o„„,pp ( Mark of contrasted color running lengthwise of a feather. 



Tarsus — The "leg" of a bird; that portion from the heel joint to the base of 

 the toes. 



Teeth — The sharp horny projections on the opposed surfaces of the two mandi- 

 bles in mergansers. 



Tertials — The innermost series of flight feathers on the wing, between the 

 secondaries and the body; they are attached to the innermost section of the 

 wing ("upper arm"). 



Throat — The area on the lower side of the head, between the chin and fore- 

 neck. 



Under Surface (op body) — The whole of the body below lines drawn along 

 either side from the corner of the mouth to the side of the tail. 



Under, op Inner, Surface of Plight Feathers — The surfaces of the flight 

 feathers which are next to the body when the wing is closed. 



Upper Surface (of body) — The whole of the body above lines drawn along 

 either side from the corner of the mouth to the side of the tail, and, where 

 the tail is of the same color, including the upper surface of it as well. 



Upper Tail Coverts — The feathers immediately behind the rump, and covering 

 the upper bases of the tail feathers. 



Vent — The anus. 



Web (of feather) — Either half of the vane of a feather, each side of the shaft. 



Web (between toes) — A membrane-like extension of skin between the front 

 toes in all members of the duck family and in certain other birds. 



