TOPOGRAPHY OF THE HEAD. 19 



§ 41. Head. Though sm;iller thiui either of the parts already considered, 

 the head has been more minutely mapped out, and such detail is necessary 

 from the number of recognizable parts or regions it includes. Without pro- 

 fessing to give all that have been named, I describe what will be needed for 

 our present purposes. 



(a). "Top of tlie head" is a collective expression for all the superior sur- 

 face, from base of the bill to nucha, and on the sides nearly or quite to the 

 level of the upper border of the eyes. This is pileiim (fig. 4, i, 4, g) ; it 

 is divided into three portions. Forehead, or frontal region, or, simply, "the 

 front" (L. froiw; fig. 4, i) includes all that slopes upward from the bill — 

 generally to about opposite the anterior border of the eyes. Middle head or 

 crown (L. corona), or vertex (L. vertex; fig. 4, i), includes the top of the 

 head proper, extending from forehead to the downward slope towards nucha. 

 This last slope is hind head, or occiput (fig. 4, o). The lateral border of all 

 three together constitutes the "superciliary line," that is, line over the eye 

 (Lat. super, over, cilia, hairs [of the brows in particular]). 



(b). "Side of the head" is a general term definiug itself. It presents for 

 consideration the following regions : orbital, or circumorbital (L. orhis, an 

 orl>, properly, here, the circular hole in the skull itself that contains the eye- 

 ball ; fig. 4, 3) is the small space forming a ring around the eyes, ; it em- 

 braces these organs, with the upper and under lids (L. palpebrm) ; where 

 these meet in front and behind respectively, is the anterior canthus and poste- 

 rior canthus. The region is also subdivided into supra-orbital, infra-orbital, 

 ante-orbital and post-orbital, according as its upper, under, front or back por- 

 tion is specially' meant. The position of the circumorbital varies in differ- 

 ent families; generally, it is midway, as stated, but may be higher or lower, 

 crowded forward toward the base of the bill, or removed to the back upper 

 corner of the side of the head, as strikingl}^ shown in the woodcock. The 

 aural or auricular (fig. 4, 33) region is the part lying over the external ear- 

 opening ; its position varies in heads of different shape ; but in the vast 

 majority' of cases it is situated a little behind and below the eye. Wherever 

 located it may be known at a glance, by the texture of the auricular feathers 

 (shortly, the auriculars) covering the opening. Doubtless to oft'or least ob- 

 stacle to passage of sound, these are a tuft of feathers with loose vexilla 

 (§0) from greatei- or less disconnection of the barbs (§ 3) ; and they may 

 collectively be raised and turned forward, exposing the ear-opening; they are 

 extremely large and conspicuous in most owls. "Temporal region," or the 

 temples (L. tempora, times, or age, because an elderly man's hair whitens 

 there first) is a term not often used ; it designates the part between eyes and 

 ears, not well distinguished from the post-orbital space. At the lowermost 

 posterior corner of the head a protuberance is seen, or may be felt ; it is 

 where the lower jaw is hinged to the skull, and is called the "angle of the 

 jaw;" it is generally just below and behind the ear. The lore (L. lorum, 

 strap or thong; hence, reins or bridle ; hence, place where the main strap of 

 a bridle passes; fig. 4, 2) is an important region. It is generally pretty 



