EXTERNAL PARTS OF BIRDS.— TOPOGRAPHY. 97 
is called ‘ cervical collar,” to distinguish it from the guttural or jugular “collars” or rings of 
color. Nucha is frequently similarly marked with a ‘nuchal band ;” often special develop- 
ments there take the form of lengthening of the feathers, and we have a “nuchal crest.” More 
particularly in birds of largely variegated colors, guttur and jugulum are marked lengthwise 
with stripes and streaks, of which those on the sides are apt to be different from those along 
the middle line in front. Jugulum occasionally has lengthened feathers, as in many herons. 
Higher up, the neck in front may have variously lengthened or otherwise modified feathers. 
Conspicuous among these are the ruffs, or tippets, of some birds, especially of the grebe family 
(Podicipedidz), and, above all our other birds, of the male ruff (Machetes pugnax). But 
these, and a few other modifications of the feathers of the upper neck, are more conveniently 
considered with those of the 
Head.— Though smaller than any of the areas already considered, the head has been 
more minutely mapped out, and much detail is required by the number and importance of its 
recognizable parts or regions. Without intending to mention all that have been named, I 
describe all needed to be known for any practical purposes. 
“Top of the head” is a collective term for all the upper surface, from base of bill to 
nape, and laterally to about the level of the upper border of the eyes; this is the pileum or 
“cap” (fig. 25, 1, 4, 6); it is divided into three portions. The forehead, or frontal region, 
or simply ‘the front” (Lat. frons ; fig. 25, 1), includes all that slopes upward from the bill, 
—generally to about opposite the anterior border of the eyes. Middle head or crown (Lat. 
corona) or vertex (Lat., fig. 25, 1), includes the top of the head proper, or highest part, from 
the rise of the forehead to the fall of the hind-head towards nucha. This slope is the hind-head, 
or occiput (Lat., fig. 25, 6). The lateral border of all three constitutes the superciliary line, 
that is, the line over the eye (Lat. super, over; cilia, little hairs, especially of the brows). 
‘Crown ” is often used as the same thing as pileam. The adjectives of the several words are 
frontal, coronal or vertical, and occipital: pileum has none in use, coronal being said instead. 
‘(Side of the head” is a general term defining itself; it presents for consideration several 
regions. The orbital or circwmorbital region, or simply the orbit (Lat. orbis, an orb, here the 
socket of the eyeball; fig. 25, 3), is a small space forming a ring around the eye. It includes 
the eye, and especially the eyelids (Lat. palpebre). The points where these meet, in front and 
behind, respectively, are the anterior canthus and posterior canthus (Gr. xavOés, kanthos, Lat. 
canthus, a tire). The orbital region is subdivided into supra-orbttal, infra-orbital, ante-orbital, 
and post-orbital, according as its upper, under, front, or back portion is desired to be specially 
designated. The situation of the orbit varies much in different groups of birds; it is generally 
midway, as said above, but may be higher or lower, jammed on toward the bill, or pushed far 
up and back, as strikingly shown in the woodeock. In owls, the orbital region is exaggerated 
into a great dise of radiating feathers, conferring a “peculiar physiognomy. The aural or 
auricular (Lat. awris, or auriculum, ear; fig. 25, 35) region lies about the external opening 
of the ear, or meatus auditorius ; its position varies in heads of different shapes, but it nearly 
always lies behind and a little below the eye. Wherever located, it may be recognized at a 
glance, by the peculiar texture of the feathers (the auriculars) which overlie the meatus. 
Doubtless to offer least obstacle to sound, these are a parcel of loose-webbed little plumes, 
which may be collectively raised and turned forward, exposing the orifice of the ear; they are 
extremely large and notable in those owls which have complicated external ear parts, and in 
such they form part of the great facial disc. The term ‘‘ temporal region ” or ‘“ temple ” is not 
often used in ornithology, not being well distinguished from the post-orbital space between eye 
and ear, and having nothing special about it. At the lowermost back corner of the side of the 
head, generally just behind and below the ear, may be seen or felt a hard protuberance ; it is 
the sharpest corner-stone of the head, being the place where the lower jaw hinges upon the 
7 
