INTUODITCTION. 



Tho shape and size of tlie bill vary uroatly, as will be seen by the following 

 illustrations representing tifteeu of the principal types among our birds : — 



Bill of Whippooririlt 



Bill of' ^ong Sparrow 



Bill (it' Ilnmming'hirtl 



Bill n/ Least Bitlern 



Bill of .^hrile 



Bill of Vr.ck 



Cere. A membrane (usually hard), which covers the base of the upper mandible. 



(Hawks, Parrots, Jajgers.) 

 Nasal Fossa, or Nasal Groove. Groove in which the nostrils open. 

 Qonys. Lower outline (middle) of the nuder mandible, A to B. 

 Culmen. The ridge of the upper mandible. 

 Unguis. The nail on the eud of the upper mandible. Very pronounced in some 



families of Water Birds, — Ducks, Pelicans, and Petrels. 

 ilandibles. — Some authors use the word nuLrilla for the upper half of the bill, and 



mandible, for the lower. I prefer, however, to describe the two halves of the bill 



as upper and lower mandible. 



