94 
ORNITHOLOGISTS' COMPENDIUM. 
made with reference to the natural distribution of animals, and is 
essentially coincident in area with the North American continent. 
Ner/ulated (L. nebulo'sus), a. Clouded, or indistinctly marked with 
faint, indefinite, and irregular colors. 
Ne'moral (L. minora' 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. 
Neotropical (L. neotropica'lus), n. Pertaining to the tropical portions of 
America, or trie New World. 
Nidifica'tion, n. Nest-building, or nesting habits. 
Nile Blue, n. A very delicate fine light greenish blue color. (Schoen- 
f eld'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 Linneeus (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. 
Notse'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 ert/throrhynchos), and the accessory or supernumerary portions of 
the bill in many Alcidaz, 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. phi'mce nuptia'ks), 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. 
