374 GLOSSARY OF TECnNICAL TERMS. 



Venlra! jins. The paired fins behind or below the pectoral fins in fishes, 



corresponding to the posterior limbs in the hi^^her vertebrates. 

 VentruJ ftlutes. In serpents, llie rcjw of plates along the belly between 



throat and vent. 

 Ventricle. One of the thick-walled chambers of the heart. 

 Versdlilf. Capable of being turned either way. 

 VtrUhid. One of the bones of the spinal column. 

 Verliciil. Up and down. 

 Verttcal fins. The fins on the median line of the body ; the dorsal, 



unal, and caudal fins. 

 Vertical plate. Central j)late on the head of a serpent. 

 Villi/orm. Said of the teeth of fishes when slender and crowded into 



velvety bands. 

 Viscous. Slimy. 



Vivii>(irous. Bringing forth living young. 

 Vomer. In fishes, the front part of the roof of the mouth ; a bone 



lying immediately behind the prema.xillaries. 

 Web. The vane of a feather, on either side of the rhachis or " stem ; " 



also, the membrane connecting the toes. 

 Xiphisteniiim. Tip of the sternum. 

 Zyjoductijle. Yoke-toed; having the toes in pairs, — two in front, two 



behind. 

 Zygoma. The malar or cheek bone. 



EXPLANATION OF SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS. 

 I. Fishes. 



L. = Total length in inches of a well-grown example. 

 U. = Dorsal fin. 

 2d D. = Second dorsal fin. 

 /'. = Pectoral fins. 

 V. ^= Ventral fins. 



A. = Anal fin. 

 C. = Caudal fin. 



B. = Branehiostegals. 



Vert. = Vertebra'. The number is usually divided into al)dnminal and 

 caudal vertebra?; the latter having the haMnay)ophyses united, 

 forming ha-mal spines. Thus Vert. 10+ 14, the usual number 

 in typical fishes, means 10 abdominal and 14 caudal vertebra;. 

 S = Male. 

 9 = Female. 



Roman numerals used with abbreviations for the fins indicate the 

 number of sjiines or inarticulate rays in a fin. Arabic numerals imlicate 

 the nuniber of so/I ruys. In a fin containing both spines and soft rays, 

 a comma (,) separating the numerals indicates that the two kinds of 

 rays are continuous, or more or less connecte*!. A dash ( — ) indicates 



