(tI.OSSARY. 



Nearly all the terms used in describing' a bird may be more easily 



and clearly understood by examinint^ the accompanying^ figure than from 



a written description; a few, however, may, perhaps, require a word of 



explanation. 

 MANDIBLES. — Some authors use the word iiuixilla for the upjjer half of 



the bill, and mandible for the lower. 1 prefer, howe\er, to describe the 



two halves of the bill as iippur and Imoer nidndiblc. 

 ('ULMEN. — 'I'he ridge of the upper mandible. 

 GONYS. — Lower outline (middle; of under mandible. 

 Ur^jUIS. — The nail on the end of the upper mandible : \ery pronounced 



in several families of water birds, - Ducks, I'elicans, and Petrels. 

 AXILLARS or AXILLARY PLUMES. — Several elongated feathers at 



the junction of the wing and body ('Lat. axilla, the arm-pit). 

 SRK(TJLUM. — A wing band or patch (usually of a different color from the 



rest of the wing; formed by the terminal portion of the secondaries: very 



noticeable in the Ducks. 

 TARSUS. — Extends from the root of the toes to the end of the tibia (what 



appears to be the bend of the leg or knee ; but which is, in reality, the 



heel joint). 

 SUPERCILI.\R^' .STRIRK. — Stripe over the eye. 



