NoniettrUdnre 6;c. of a B'lnVs Anatom//. 



119 



Tlie Methods and Technique of Measuring. 



It is desirable in })ractice to give measurements in milli- 

 metres (mm.). The term " Centimetre,'^ which is also 

 sometimes used, is not satisfactory, because in the case of 

 small measurements it is necessary to employ decimals, 

 which may easily lead to mistakes and misprints, and the 

 omission of a stop or point is liable to cause confusion. It 

 is, therefore, always undesirable to employ "Centimetres" 

 in measuring Birds and Eggs. 



1. The Total Length (T. L.) is the measurement from the 

 tip of the bill to the tip of the central tail-featlier measured 

 on the outstretched body of a bird : the body must not be 

 forcibly lengthened. 



2. TJie Length of Wing (L. of W.) is the measurement 

 taken from the carjial (wrist) joint to the end of the longest 

 llight-featlier. The method of measurement is as follows: 

 place a millimetre-rule under the wing and press the wing 

 gently on to it, reading the scale thereafter. 



[As above stated, Dr. Hartert has adopted this mode of 

 measurement, but I do not believe that this has hitherto been 



