14 GLOSSARY 



FORMS. As used herein, meaning "kinds," embracing species and sub- 

 species. 

 FRONTAL. Pertaining to the forehead. 



GAPE. The width of the mouth when open. 



GENUS (pi. genera). In ornithology, a group of birds within a family 

 or subfamily, consisting of a number of species which are closely 

 related. 



GLAUCOUS. Of a whitish-blue or whitish-green colour. 



GREATER COVERTS. The hindmost row of the upper wing-coverts, 

 overlying the bases of the secondaries and tertials; the tips of these 

 form a border in front of speculum (fig. 19). The outer webs of 

 these feathers are exposed, the same being true of the lesser coverts, 

 whereas in the middle coverts, the inner webs are exposed. 



GREGARIOUS. Living in flocks or communities; fond of company. 



HABITAT. Natural abode; the kind of environment in which the bird 



occurs. 



HIND-NECK. The middle of the neck behind (fig. 16). 

 HINDPARTS. The hindquarters; those parts of the body towards the 



rear. 

 HYBRID. The offspring of parents of different species; a cross. 



IMMACULATE. Unspotted; unmarked. 



IMMATURE. Not adult, even though full-grown; juvenile. 



INTERSCAPULARS. The feathers in the middle line of the back be- 

 tween the scapulars or shoulders. 



IRIDESCENT. With bright, changeable colours or tints in different 

 lights. 



IRIS. The coloured part of the eye surrounding the black pupil. 



JUVENILE. Not adult, even though fully grown; immature. 

 JUVENILE PLUMAGE. The plumage following the downy plumage 



and preceding the adult plumage; the first feathered plumage (see 



section on "Moults and Plumages"). 



LAMELLATE. Havinsr tooth-like serrations, as the ed^es of a duck's 

 bill. 



LATERAL. At or towards the side. 



LEG. See Tarsus. 



LENGTH. Measured from the tip of the bill to the end of the longest 

 tail-feather, the bird being laid flat on its back and stretched just 

 sufficiently to straighten out the curves of the neck. 



LESSER COVERTS. The several rows of small covering feathers of the 

 outer surface of the wing, from the bend of the wing to the side of 

 the body, and forward of the middle coverts (fig. 19); as with the 

 greater coverts, the outer webs of these feathers are exposed, whereas 

 in the middle coverts the inner webs are exposed. 



