94 



ORNITHOLOGISTS' COMPENDIUM. 



made with reference to the natural distribution of animals, and is 

 essentially coincident in area with the North American continent. 

 Neb'ulated (L. nebulo'sus), a. Clouded, or indistinctly marked with 



faint, indefinite, and irregular colors. 

 Ne'moral (L. nemora'lis), a. Pertaining to a wood or grove. 

 Neogae'an, a. Pertaining to the Western Hemisphere or New World. 

 Neossol'ogy, n. The study of young birds. 

 Neotrop'ical (L. neotropica'lus), n. Pertaining to the tropical portions of 



America, or tne New World. 

 Nidifica'tion, n. Nest-building, or nesting habits. 

 Nile Blue, n. A very delicate fine light greenish blue color. (Schoen- 



feld's " lichtblau.") (Plate IX. fig. 23.) 

 No'menclature, n. The names of things, according to a recognized 

 principle of naming, or those peculiar to any department of science. 

 Various systems of nomenclature have been employed in the naming 

 of animals and plants. Previous to the institution of the binomial 

 system by Linnasus (first promulgated as to zoology in 1758), the 

 polynomial system, or the use of several terms as the name of a 

 species, was much in vogue. That now employed is the binomial 

 system of Linnasus, in which usually only two terms are used, the 

 one generic, the other specific, but occasionally modified, according 

 to the requirements of modern science, by the use of a third term 

 after the specific one, for the designation of nascent species, or 

 " subspecies." 

 Nor'mal (L. norma'lis), a. Usual; regular; or in conformity with a 



particular rule or standard. 

 Nos'tril (L. na'ris, pi. na'res), n. The external openings of the organs 



of respiration. 

 Notas'um (L.), n. The Latin equivalent for " Upper Parts." 

 Nu'cha (L.), n. The nape, or upper part of the cervix. (Often, but 



incorrectly, used for the whole cervix.) 

 Nu'chal (L. nucha'lis), a. Pertaining to the nape. 



Nup'tial or'naments (L. ornamen'ta nuptia'lia), n. As distinguished from 

 nuptial plumes, any temporary growth from the unfeathered portion 

 of a bird, characteristic of or peculiar to the breeding season. The 

 compressed maxillary process of the American White Pelican (Pele- 

 canus erytkrorhynckos), and the accessory or supernumerary portions of 

 the bill in many Alcidce, are among the best-known examples. 

 Nup'tial plu'mage (L. ves'tis nuptia'lis), n. A particular plumage, peculiar 



to the breeding season, characteristic of some birds. 

 Nup'tial plumes (L. plu'mce nuptia'les), n. Ornamental feathers acquired 

 at the approach of the breeding season, and cast at the close of that 

 period; as the lengthened plumes of many Herons, the crests and 

 filamentous feathers of some Cormorants, etc. 



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