20 INTRODUCTION. 
forked, forficate. A cuneate tail is the exact opposite to one 
forficate. 
The tarsus, often called the “leg,” extends from the base of 
the toes to the first joint above, and in a majority of birds is 
unfeathered. If without scales in front (unless near the bot- 
tom) it is ‘‘ booted,” or if with scales, scutellate. (If covered 
with very small scales which do not overlap one another, it is 
reticulate; or it may be granulated as in the Fish Hawk.) 
The following is a vocabulary of several other descriptive 
terms. Auwriculars (or ear-patch), the feathers behind, but a 
little below the level of the eye. Circumocular, about the eye. 
Crown, top of the head (usually above the eye). Eye-patch, 
a tract of color enclosing the eye. Hye-stripe, a line running 
through the eye (so to speak). Interscapulars, feathers on the 
back between the wing-shoulders, or between the head and 
rump. Tris, (pl. irides), a colored circle enclosing the pupil 
of the eye. Lore, the feathers about the base of the bill, or 
between the bill and the eye. Mazillary line, one running 
backward from the gape, and bordering the throat. Median 
line, one dividing the crown. Nape (or nuchal patch), the 
hind-head (properly above the cervix, or hind-neck). Swuper- 
ciliary line, a stripe immediately above the eye. Vermicula- 
tion, very fine ‘‘ waves.” signifies the male, Q the female; 
= signifies ‘equal to,” > “more than,” and < “less than.” 
“Inch” or “inches” is abbreviated to im., and decimal num- 
bers (written with a dot before) generally indicate hundredths 
of an inch. 
Exéept where there are indications to the contrary, the 
‘‘upper parts” generally include the upper surface of the 
wings and tail, though the ‘under parts” frequently refer to 
the body only. The ‘‘ crown” ineludes the forehead (or even 
