66 



GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



METHOD OF TAKING MEASUREMENTS 



As a rule, only adult birds have been used in securing the measurements 

 given in this book; but in a few cases (which are designated) full-grown 

 immature birds have been included. In every instance the region of capture of 

 the specimens used is indicated. Occasional individuals are likely to be found 

 which do not come within the limits of the measurements here given, and of 

 course specimens with tail or wing feathers badly worn or in process of molt 

 will give total lengths and wing lengths below normal. 



Wherever measurements were taken by us originally in millimeters, the 

 equivalents in inches and hundredths have been secured by mechanical eon- 

 version, double checked; and the converse is true of measurements taken orig- 

 inally in inches, as well as of all those quoted from published literature. 



Total length- 



Fig. 4. Side view of Hudsonian Curlew showing method of taking the 

 measurements used in this book. One-fourth natural size. 



Total Length — With the bird laid flat on its back, the head straight out, 

 and the neck not unduly stretched, measure from the tip of the bill to the end 

 of the longest tail feather. 



Folded Wing — With the wing folded naturally against the side of the bird, 

 measure in a straight line from the bend of the wing ("wrist joint") to the 

 tip of the longest primary flight feather. 



Bill Along Culmen — Measure in a straight line from the last feathers on 

 the middle of the forehead to the tip of the bill. This is really the "chord of 

 the culmen," and does not take into account any irregularity or curve in the 

 profile of the bill. 



Tarsus — Measure from the notch in the "hock" or "heel" at the upper 

 end of the tarsus to and over the rounded knob on the front of the lower end 

 of the tarsus at the base of the middle toe. 



Middle Toe (without claw) — With the foot pressed against some flat surface 

 so that the toes are spread out, measure from the angle just below the lower 

 end of the tarsus to the base of the claw. 



Eggs — Measured with calipers; specimens with holes in their end? are likely 

 to fall short of the measurements given for the longer dimension. 



