GLOSSARY. 



Nearly all the terms used in describing a bird may be more easily and clearly 

 understood by examining the accompanying figure than from a written description ; 

 a few, however, may, perhaps, require a word of explanation. 



Mandibles. ■ — Some authors use the word maxilla for the upper half of the bill, and 

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

 bill as the upper and lower mandible. 



Culmen. — The ridge of the upper mandible. 



Qonys. — Lower outline (middle) of the under mandible. 



Unguis. — The nail on the end of the upper mandible ; very pronounced in several 

 families of water birds, — Ducks, Pelicans, and Petrels. 



Axillars or Axillary Plumes. — Several elongated feathers at the junction of the 

 wing and body. (Lat. axilla, the arm-pit.) 



Speculum. — Awing band or patch (usually of a different color from the rest of 

 the wing), formed by the terminal portion of the secondaries; very noticeable in 

 the Ducks. 



Tarsus. — Extends from the root of the toes to the end of the tibia (what appears to 

 be the bend of the leg or knee ; but which is, in reality, the heel joint) .' 



Superciliary Stripe. — Stripe over the eye. 



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