234 



Pectinate. Furnished with comb-like teeth. In ornithology usually applied to the 

 claws of some species that are so furnished (Figure 19, p. 21). 



Pelagic. Living largely or almost entirely at sea. 



Pensile. Applied to nests that hang suspended like a bag between the forks of a 

 branch or other such support, with nothing supporting from below. 



Primaries. The large flight feathers secured to the first joint of the wing from the 

 wrist to the tip (See Secondaries). (See Figure 1, p. 18.) 



Race. As used here, practically synonymous with subspecies. In general, any 

 group within a species exhibiting recognizable common characters differentiating it from 

 others of the same species. 



Rufous. Of a red or reddish colour. 



Rump. The lower end of the back just before the root of the tail (Figure 1, p. 18). 



Secondaries. The large flight feathers secured to the second joint of the wing 

 between the wrist and the elbow (See Primaries). (Figure 1, p. 18.) 



Species. In zoological classification the smallest constant group. It is the scientific 

 term to denote what is understood in common language as a " kind of animal." Thus a 

 house cat is a species, whether Maltese, tortoise shell, or tabby; the dog, whether grey- 

 hound or spaniel is another; and a horse, whether Shetland pony or draught, is a third 

 (See p. S). 



Speculum. A somewhat rectangular patch of contrasting colour on the centre of the 

 upper surface of the wing. It often shows metallic iridescence and is a common feature of 

 coloration in some families, as in the Ducks. 



Stripes. In ornithological descriptions, stripes always run lengthways of the bird; 

 lines across the body are spoken of as bars (See bars). 



Sternum. The breast bone. In a bird a deeply-keeled structure to which the wing 

 muscles are attached. 



Subspecies. In ornithological classification, synonymous with geographical race or 

 variety, denoting a division of the species usually correlated with geographic limitations. 

 It differs essentially from a full species by showing intergradations with allied races of equal 

 rank. Taking the horse as a representative species, the various breeds or strains, such as 

 Arab, Clydesdale, or Shetland pony are subspecies (See page 6, for discussion). 



Tarsus. The metatarsal bones of the foot fused together into a single bone. This is 

 what we popularly regard as the bird's leg but is properly the foot, extending between the 

 juncture of the toes and the end of the " drum stick." A comparison with the joints of the 

 human leg will make it obvious that the knee is between the " drum stick " and the 

 " second joint " of the fowl and that the first external joint on the bird corresponds with our 

 heel, the " feet " being true toes. 



Type. In zoological nomenclature the " type form " is that form first properly 

 described and named and the specimen from which the description was written is the type 

 specimen. It does not of necessity mean that the form is typical in the ordinary sense of 

 the word, though for convenience it is assumed to be so (See p. 7). 



Vermiculation. In descriptions of plumage, vermiculation refers to fine, irregularly 

 wavy lines suggesting the pathways of innumerable small worms, from which the word is 

 derived. 



Vinaceous. Wine coloured. A peculiar purplish pink shown or suggested in the 

 coloration of some birds. 



