GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS. 



91 



Mel'anism (L. melanis'mus), n. A peculiar state of coloration resulting 

 from excess of black or dark pigment. The normal colors of the 

 plumage are replaced by a more or less continuous black or dusky 

 color. The opposite extreme of color from albinism, and of frequent 

 occurrence in the family Falconidce. 

 Melanis'tic (L. melanis'ticus), ) fl _ Affected with melanism . 

 Melanotic, ) 



Mem'brane (L. mem'brana), n. A thin, flexible integument or skin, as the 



webs between the toes of ducks, etc. 

 Mem'braneous, a. Of a soft skinny nature, as the soft skin about the 



base of the bill of pigeons, the webs between the toes in ducks, etc. 

 Men'tal (L. menta'lis), a. Pertaining to the chin, or mentum. 

 Men'tal A'pex (L. an'gulus menta'lis), n. The extreme anterior point 



of the chin. (Plate XII. fig. 4.) 

 Men'tum (L.), n. The chin, or anterior part of the space between the 



rhami of the lower jaw. 

 Me'sial, a. Along the middle line. (Same as medial.) 

 Meso- (in composition). Middle; median. 



Mesorhin'al (L. mesorhi'nus) , a. Situated between the nostrils. 

 Metacarpal (L. metacarpal is), a. Pertaining to the hand, or metacarpus. 

 Metacarpus (L.), n. The hand, exclusive of the fingers; the segment 



of the wing between the carpus and digits. 

 Metagnath'ous (L. metagna'thus), a. Cross-billed, with the points of 



the maxilla and mandible crossing on the right and left. 

 Metallic (L. metal'licus), a. As applied to colors having a brilliant 



appearance, like burnished metal. 

 Metatarsal, a. Pertaining to the metatarsus. 



Metatar'sus (L.), n. That portion of the leg of birds which in descrip- 

 tive Ornithology is called the tarsus; or that portion, usually unfeath- 

 ered, which extends from the toes to the so-called " knee " (that is, the 

 heel). 

 Mid'dle Toe, n. The middle one of the three anterior toes. It is usually 

 4-jointed, and longer than the lateral toes. In numerical order it is 

 the third, the hind toe, or hallux, being the first, and the inner toe 

 the second. In zygodactylous birds it corresponds to the outer anterior 

 toe, the fourth toe being reversed. (Plate XI.) 



(L. tec' trices a'lai me' dice; tec' trices a'loz per- 

 ver'sce), n. The series of coverts, usually 

 in a single transverse row, situated between 

 the lesser and greater, or secondary coverts. 

 They usually overlap one another in the 

 reverse manner from the other coverts, the 

 inner or upper edge being the one exposed. 

 (Plate XL) 



Migration (L. migra'tio), n. Periodical change of abode, influenced 

 chiefly by seasonal changes in climate, in which case the migration 



Mid'dle Cov'erts, 

 Mid'dle Wing-cov'erts,- 

 Me'dian Cov'erts, 



