GLOSSAEY OF TECHNICAL TERMS. 
79 
Flax-flower Blue, n. A delicate light purplish blue color. (French 
blue + white.) (Plate IX. fig. 14.) 
Flesh-color (L. car'neus; incarna'tus), n. A pinkish color, like that 
observable in the cheeks of a person of fair complexion ; carnation. 
(Scarlet-vermilion -f white.) (Plate VII. fig. 18.) 
Floc'culent (L. jloccula'tus) , a. In descriptive Ornithology, pertaining to 
the down of newly hatched or unfledged young birds. 
Floc'cus (L.), n. The down peculiar to unfledged or newly hatched 
young birds ; in piilopiedic birds it covers the general surface and is 
unconnected with the future plumage, while in psilopcedic birds it 
sprouts only from the undeveloped feathers, to the tips of which 
it is often seen clinging when the latter are considerably grown. 
Flu'viatile (L. fluviaftilis), a. Pertaining to rivers. 
Fore'head, ( (L frons), n. Fore part of the top of the head, from the 
Front, ( base of the bill to the vertex, or crown. (Plate XI.) 
Fore'-neck (L. guftur), n. A rather indefinite and arbitrary term, 
variously applied, but usually referring to the lower throat and 
jugulum, though not infrequently to the whole of the space included 
by the chin, throat, and jugulum. In long-necked birds only does 
the term become of definite application. (See note facing plate XI.) 
For'ficate (L.forfica'tus), a. Deeply forked, as the tail of a Kite. 
Form (L. for'mis), n. In a special sense, a sort of non-committal term 
frequently used by modern writers to designate what is of doubtful 
rank. The term " form " is thus used for what may prove to be 
a species, or may be only a race, but as to the rank of which the 
author is in doubt. 
Fos'sa (L. ; ipl.fos'sce), n. A ditch or groove. In descriptive Ornithology, 
used chiefly in the plural, to denote the depressions in which the 
nostrils are placed. 
Fosso'rial, a. Digging into the earth for a habitation. (The Burrowing 
Owl, Speotyto cunicularia, is afossorial bird.) 
Fos'ter-parent, n. A bird which has reared the young of a parasitic 
species. 
Fos'ter-young - , n. The young of a parasitic species which has been 
reared in the nest of another bird. 
Free, a. Said of a leg with the tibia unconfined within the skin of the 
body. 
French Blue, n. A very rich blue color, deeper than ultramarine. 
(French blue.) (Plate IX. fig. 6.) 
French Gray, n. A fine light bluish gray color, darker than pearl-gray, 
lighter and bluer than cinereous. (Black -J- intense blue -j- smalt- 
blue -f white.) (Plate II. fig. 17.) 
French Green, n. A very pure rich green color; the typical green. 
(Italian ultramarine + light cadmium.) (Plate X. fig. 19.) 
Fre'num (L.), n. A bridle or marking about the head resembling or 
recalling a bridle. 
