376 GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TEEMS. 



V. P. = Number of ventral plates, or gastrosteges, counted along the 

 belly, from the throat to the vent. The figures given in the 

 descriptions are intended to be average, the actual number being 

 somewhat variable. 



S. C. P. = Number of pairs of sub-caudal plates, or urosteges, counted 

 from the vent to the tip of the tail. 



III. BIRDS. 



Z. = Length in inches (along back from tip of bill to end of longest 



tail feather) ; thus, " L. 7 " means, length 7 inches. 

 E. = Extent (spread of wing) measured in inches. 



W. Length of wing (from bend of closed wing carpal joint to 



tip of longest feather) in inches. 

 T. = Length of tail in inches (i. e., actual length of the longest tail 



feather). 

 B. = Length of bill in inches (measured along middle line of culmen 



to tip of bill). 

 Hd.= Length of head in inches (measured with dividers from base of 



bill to nape.) 



7s. = Length of Tarsus in inches (measured in front). 

 Tel. = Length of middle toe with its claw. 



The measurements given in the descriptions are understood to repre- 

 sent a fair average adult male ; a variation of one-sixth, or more, in 

 absolute length is nothing unusual ; relative lengths, as of wings and 

 tail, are much more constant. To save space I have usually preferred 

 to say " L. 6," to saying " L. 5 to Q\. n 



9 = Female. 



Yg. = Young. 



> = More than, longer than, or more than equivalent to. 



< = Less than, in its various senses. 



= = Sign of equivalence. 



The toes are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 ; 1 being the hind toe, or hallux ; 2 

 the inner anterior toe ; 3 the middle toe ; and 4 the outer toe. 



IV. MAMMALS. 



L. = Length in inches from tip of snout to tip of last vertebra of tail. 



T. = Length of tail in inches (exclusive of hairs). 



i. = Incisor teeth. 



c. Canines. 



pm. Premolars. 



m. = Molars. 



