GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS. 373 
Symplectic. The bone in fishes that keys together the hyomandibular 
and quadrate posteriorly. 
Syndactyle. Having two toes immovably united for some distance, — 
as in the Kingfisher. 
Synonym. A different word having the same or a similar meaning. 
Synonomy. A collection of different names for the same group, species, 
or thing; “a burden and a disgrace to science.” (Coues.) 
Tail. In mammals, the vertebre, etc., posterior to the sacrum; in 
birds, the tail-feathers or rectrices, taken collectively ; in serpents, 
the part of the body posterior to the vent; in fishes (usually), the 
part of the body posterior to the anal fin. (Often used more or 
less vaguely.) 
Tail coverts. The small feathers overlapping the bases of the rec- 
trices. 
Tarso-metatarsus. The correct name for the so-called tarsus of birds ; 
the bone reaching from the tibia to the toes, composed chiefly of 
the metatarsus, but having at its top one of the small tarsal bones 
confluent with it. 
Tarsus. The ankle-bones collectively ; in birds, commonly used for 
the shank-bone, lying between the tibia and the toes, the tarso- 
metatarsus. 
Tectrices. The wing and tail coverts. 
Temporal. Pertaining to the region of the temples. 
Tenuirostral. Slender-billed. 
Terete. Cylindrical and tapering. 
Terminal. At the end. 
Tertials. The quills attached to the humerus. 
Tessellated. Marked with little checks or squares, like mosaic work. 
Thoracic. Pertaining to the chest; ventral fins are thoracic when at- 
tached immediately below the pectorals, as in the perch, the pelvic 
bones being fastened to the shoulder girdle. 
Tibia. Shin-bone ; inner bone of leg between knee and heel. 
Tomium. Cutting edge of the bill. 
Totipalmate. Having all four toes connected by webbing. 
Tragus. The inner lobe of the ear; the lobe opposite the auricle. 
Transverse. Crosswise. 
Trenchant. Compressed to a sharp edge. 
_ Truncate. Abrupt, as if cut squarely off. 
Tubercle. A small excrescence, like a pimple. 
Tympanum. Drum of the ear; external in some Batrachia, etc. 
Typical. Of a structure the most usual in a given group. 
Ulna. The inner or posterior bone of the fore-arm. 
Ungquiculate. Provided with claws. 
Ungulate. Provided with hoofs. 
Unicolor. Of a single color. 
Ultimate. Last or farthest. 
Urosteges. The plates underneath the tail of a serpent. 
Vent. The external opening of the alimentary canal. 
Ventral. Pertaining to the abdomen, 
