233 



Emarginate. When applied to the shape of feathers indicates that more or less of 

 one web is cut away as if a shaving had been removed with a jack-knife. 



Extralimital. In describing distribution refers to the subject occurring beyond 

 the geographical bounds of the area under discussion. 



Family. In zoological classification is one of the larger groups of animals having 

 enough mutual resemblance to be classed together and apart from all other forms. It is 

 the next larger group to a genus and next smaller to an order or suborder. For example, 

 all the Ducks, Geese, and Swans belong to the same family, Anatidse (See p. 5). 



Flanks. The sides of the body, below or under the closed wing. They are often 

 covered by a loose group of feathers that may be laid at will either over or under the shafts 

 of the closed wing (Figure 1, p. 18). 



Genus (plural, genera). In zoological classification is one of the smaller groups of 

 animals having enough resemblance to be classed together and apart from all other groups 

 of like rank. It is a subdivision of a family or subfamily and next above a species. A 

 genus is, therefore, a group of species, and a group of genera is a family (See p. 5). 



Gular Pouch. A pouch of bare skin depending from the under side of the lower bill 

 between its Y-shaped arms and joining it to the neck below. Some species have only the 

 merest trace of it, and others have it remarkably developed, though in most species it is 

 entirely absent. 



Hybrid. The offspring between parents of two different species a "cross." 



Iris. The coloured part of the eye. The pupil, except in albinism, is always 

 black and the surrounding circle of colour is the iris. 



Lanceolate. Lance shaped, i.e., long and narrow with parallel edges or tapering 

 gradually to a point. 



Length. Abbreviated in descriptions by its initial L and given in inches and tenths 

 of an inch. Length is taken in a straight line, as with dividers, from the tip of the bill to the 

 end of the longest tail feather, the bird being laid out flat on its back and stretched just 

 sufficiently to straighten the curves of the neck. 



Lores. A small spot between the eye and the base of the bill (Figure 1, p. 18). 



Mandibles. The two members forming the bill; thus there is an upper and a lower 

 mandible. 



Mantle. A term covering the back, shoulders, upperwing-coverts, and secondaries. 

 Applied more especially to the gulls where the even colouring of these parts suggests a 

 mantle covering the whole upper part of the body and closed wings. 



Melanism. The opposite of albinism. It is the more or less erratic occurrence of 

 very dark or black individuals in a normally lighter-coloured species. It usually occurs 

 less frequently than albinism though some species are more liable to it and it glides im- 

 perceptibly into dichromatism in some cases. Albinism usually denotes a lack of virility. 

 Melanism does not seem to be an evidence of weakness and hence melanistic strains have 

 better chances of surviving. A melanistic animal is said to be a Melano (See p. 6). 



Nape. A small space at the back of the neck just below the base of the skull (Figure 

 1, p. 18). 



Neck. The space between the throat and the breast in front, and between the hind 

 head and shoulders behind. It is divided into foreneck and hindneck whose meanings 

 are obvious (Figure 1, p. 18). 



Order. In zoological classification a group of families having strong enough mutual 

 resemblance to separate them from all other groups. It is next larger than the family 

 and is the largest subdividion of birds that we have to deal with in Canada (See p. 5). 



