GLOSSARY 15 



LINING OF WING. The under wing-coverts; the feathers on the under 

 surface of the wing covering the bases of the flight-feathers (fig. 20). 

 LOBE. The membrane-like flap on the hind toe of some ducks (fig. 9). 

 LORES. The space between the eye and bill. 

 LOWER TAIL-COVERTS. The under tail-coverts. 



MALAR REGION. The cheek region. 



MANDIBLES. The two members forming the bill; there is an upper 

 and a lower mandible. 



MELANISM. The opposite of albinism. An unusual development of 

 black or nearly black plumage. A melanistic bird is said to be a 

 melano. 



MERGINAE. The subfamily of Mergansers. 



MIDDLE COVERTS. The two rows of upper wing-coverts lying imme- 

 diately forward of the greater coverts (fig. 19); the inner webs of 

 the middle coverts are exposed, whereas in the greater and lesser 

 coverts the outer webs are exposed. 



MOLLUSC. A shellfish such as a clam, oyster, whelk, snail, etc. 



MOULT. The periodic shedding or casting of the feathers. 



NAIL (of bill). The rounded and slightly raised portion on the tip of 



the bill. (Of toe). See CLAW. 

 NAPE. The upper part of the hind-neck just below the base of the skull 



(fig. 16). 



NUCHAL. Relating to the nucha or nape. 

 NYROCINAE. The subfamily of Bay, Sea or Diving Ducks. 



OBSCURE. Indistinct; ill-defined. 



OCCIPUT. The back of the head. 



OLIVACEOUS. Of an olive-green colour. 



ORNITHOLOGY. The branch of zoology which treats of birds; the 



science of birds. 

 OXYURINAE. See Erismaturinae . 



PELVIS. The bony structure enclosing the lower abdominal cavity. 



POLYANDRY. The habit of having more than one (male) mate at the 

 same time. 



POLYGAMY. The habit of having more than one (female) mate at the 

 same time. 



POSTNUPTIAL. Occurring after the breeding season. 



PRIMARIES. The outermost and longest series of flight-feathers of the 

 wing, attached to the "hand" or first section of the wing between 

 the "wrist" and the tip (figs. 19 and 22). In this work the desig- 

 nation "first" primary has reference to the outermost, fully-devel- 

 oped member of the primary feathers; actually, however, the first 

 primary is a rudimentary feather about an inch in length, spike-like 

 in form and known as the "remicle." 



PRIMARY COVERTS. The series of covering feathers overlying the 

 bases of the primaries. 



