GLOSSARY. 375 



Ruff— A. series of modified featliers. 



Scaiisorial — Capable of climbing. 



Scaiisorial tail — Tail feathers sharp and stiff, as in the scansorial 



birds (Woodpeckers). 

 Scapula — Shoulder blade. 



Scutellate—VvoY\({(id. with scutella ; said of the tarsus when 

 covered with broad plates in a regular vertical series, and 

 separated by regular lines of impression. 

 Scutellum — One of the tarsal plates or scutella. 

 Secondaries — The quills growing on the fore arm. 

 Second dorsal— The posterior or soft part of the dorsal fin, when 



the two parts are distinctly separated. 

 Sectorial tooth— One of the premolars of carnivora, adapted for 



cutting. 

 Semipalmate — Half -webbed ; having the anterior toes more or less 

 connected at base by a webbing which does not extend to the 

 claws. 

 Septum — A thin partition. 

 Serrate — Notched, like a saw. 

 Sessile — Without a stem or peduncle. 

 Setaceous — Bristly. 

 SJioulder girdle— The bony girdle posterior to the head, in fishes, 



etc., to which the anterior limbs are attached. 

 Soft dorsal— The posterior part of the dorsal fin in fishes, when 



composed of soft rays. 

 Soft rai/s— Fin -rays, which are branching and articulate. 

 Spine— Any sharp projecting point; in fishes, those fin -rays 

 wliich are unbranched, inarticulate, and usually more or less 

 stiffened. 

 Spinous— Stiff, or composed of spines. 

 Spinous dorsal— T\\e anterior part of the dorsal fin in fishes, 



when composed of spinous rays. 

 Spiracles— Openings in the head or neck of some fishes and 



Batrachians. 

 Spurious— Said of the first primary when less than about on(>- 

 third the length of the second. (The student will notice that 

 in Oscines the presence of a short or spurious quill indicates 

 ten primaries; its absence, nine.) 

 Sternum — The breast bone. 

 Striate — Striped or streaked. 



