LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. 
3. The sign of Mars, signifying male. 
2. The sign of Venus, signifying female. 
Ad Adult, a bird in fully mature plumage. 
Yng. Young, a fully grown bird which has not yet acquired the plu- 
mage of the adult. 
L. Length, the distance from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail. 
This measurement is made from dead birds, birds in life appear 
somewhat shorter. 
W. Wing, the distance from the ‘bend’ of the wing to the end of the 
longest feather 
T. Tail, the distance from the insertion of the tail-feathers to the end 
of the longest one. 
Tar. ‘Tarsus, the distance from the heel to the insertion of the toes, 
or of the so-called ‘leg.’ 
B. Bill, the distance from the feathers at the base of the bill above to 
its tip. 
Nore. All measurements are in inches and tenths, and a variation 2f 
about ten per cent. from the figures given may be expected. The num- 
ber before the name of each species is that of the American Ornitholo- 
gists’ Union’s ‘Check-List of North American Birds.’ 
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