116 CHECK LIST OF THE 



Pectoral fins. The anterior or upermost of the paired fins, in fishes cor- 

 responding to the anterior limbs of the higher vertebates. 



Pelage. The hair of a mammal taken collectively. 



Pelagic. Living on or in the high seas. 



Pelvic girdle. The bones supporting the ventral fins or pelvics. 



Pelvis. The bones to which the hinder limbs (ventral fins in fishes) are 

 attached. 



Perforate. Pierced through ; said of nostrils when without a septum. 



Perissodactylous. Odd toed (toes i, 3 or 5). 



Peritoneum. The membrane lining the abdominal cavity. 



Phalanges. Bones of the fingers and toes. 



Pharyngeal bones. Bones behind the gills and at the beginning of the 

 oesophagus of fishes, of various forms, almost always provided 

 with teeth ; usually one pair below and four pairs above. They 

 represent a fifth gill arch. 



Pharyngobranchials. Upper elements of the branchial arches usually 

 bearing teeth. 



Pharyngonathous. Having the lower pharyngeal bones united. 



Physoclistous. Having the air bladder closed. 



Physostomous. Having the air bladder connected by a tube with the ali- 

 menatry canal. 



Pigment. Colouring matter. 



Pineal body. A small ganglion in the brain ; a rudiment of an optic lobe, 

 which in certain lizards (and in extinct forms) is connected with 

 a third or median eye. 



Pituitary body. A small ganglion in the brain. 



Planta. Sole of foot. 



Plastron. Lower shell of a turtle. 



Plicate. Folded, showing transverse folds or wrinkles. 



Plumage. The feathers of a bird taken collectively. 



Plumbeous. Lead-coloured ; dull bluish gray. 



Pollex. Thumb ; in birds the digit which bears the alula corresponding 

 to the index finger. 



Polygamous. Mating with more than one female. 



Postclavicle. A ray composed of one or two bones attached to the inner 

 upper surface of the clavicle and extending downward. 



Post-frontal (plates). The ones before the vertical plate. 



Post-orbital. Behind the eye. 



Post-temporal. The bone, in fishes, by which the shoulder girdle is sus- 

 pended to the cranium. 



Prcecoces. Birds able to run about and feed themselves at once when 

 hatched. 



Proecocial. Having the nature of prcecoces. 



Proecoracoid. A portion of coracoid more or less separated from the rest. 



Prcecoracoid arch. An arch in front of the coracoid in most soft-rayed 

 fishes. 



