376 GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TEKMS. 



V. A = NunihiT of ventral plates, or gastrostoges, counted along the 

 belly, from the throat to the vent. The f^^rure^^ given in the 

 descriptions are intended to be arercKje, the actual number being 

 somewhat variable. 



S. C. P. = Number of pairs of sub-caudal plates, or urostcgcs, counted 

 from the vent to the tip of the tail. 



III. Birds. 



Z. = Length in inches (along back from tip of bill to end of longest 



tail feather) ; thus, " L. 7J " means, length 7^ inches. 

 £. = Extent (spread of wing) measured in inches, 

 ir. = Length of wing (from bend of closed wing — carpal joint — to 



tip of longest feather) in inches. 

 T'. = Lengtii of tail in inches {i. e., actual length of the longest tail 



feather). 

 ZJ. ^Length of bill in inches (measured along middle line of culmen 



to tip of bill). 

 //</. = Length of head in inches (measured with dividers from base of 



bill to nape.) 

 Ts. = Length of Tarsus in inches (measured in front). 

 Tel. =^ Length of middle toe with its claw. 



The measurements given in the descriptions are understood to repre- 

 sent a fair averatje adult inaU ; a variation of one-si.xth. or more, in 

 absolute length is nothing unusual ; relntire lengths, as of wings and 

 tail, are much more constant. To save space I have usually preferred 

 to say " L. 6," to saying "L. 6^ to (JJ." 



g = Male. 



9 = Female. 



Ytj. = Young. 



> = More than, longer than, or more than equivalent to. 



<= Less than, in its various senses. 



^ = Sign of equivalence. 



The toes are numbered 1, 2, .3, 4 ; 1 being the liind toe, or hallux ; 2 

 the inner anterior toe ; 3 the middle toe ; and 4 the outer toe. 



IV. Mammals. 



Z. = Length in inches from tip of snout to tip of last vertebra of tail. 



7". = Length of tail in inches (exclusive of hairs). 



i. = Incisor teeth. 



c. — Canines. 



pm. — Premolars. 



m. = Molars. 



