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Gular Pouch. A pouch of bare skin depending from the under side of the lower bill 
between its Y-shaped arms and joining it to the neck below. Some species have only the 
merest trace of it, and others have it remarkably developed, though in most species it is 
entirely absent. 
Hybrid. The offspring between parents of two different species — a “cross.’' 
Iris. The coloured part of the eye. The pupil, except in albinism, is always black 
and the surrounding circle of colour is the iris. 
Lanceolate. Lance shaped, i.e,, long and narrow with parallel edges or tapering 
gradually to a point. 
Length. Abbreviated in descriptions by its initial L and given in inches and tenths 
of an inch. Length is taken in a straight line, as with dividers, from the tip of the bill to the 
end of the longest tail feather, the bird being laid out flat on its back and stretched just 
sufficiently to straighten the curves of the neck. 
Lores. A small spot between the eye and the base of the bill (Figure 1, page 23) . 
Mandibles. The two members forming the bill; thus there is an upper and a lower 
mandible. 
Mantle. A term covering the back, shoulders, upperwing-coverts, and secondaries. 
Applied more especially to the gulls where the even colouring of these parts suggests a 
mantle covering the whole upper part of the body and closed wings. 
Mast. Soft-shelled nuts, like acorns, beechnuts, etc. 
Melanism. The opposite of albinism. It is the more or less erratic occurrence of 
very dark or black individuals in a normally lighter-coloured species. It usually occurs 
less frequently than albinism though some species are more liable to it and it glides imper- 
ceptibly into dichromatism in some cases. Albinism usually denotes a lack of virility. 
Melanism does not seem to be an evidence of weakness and hence melanistic strains have 
better chances of surviving. A melanistic animal is said to be a Melano (See page G). 
Nape. A small space at the back of the neck just below the base of the skull (Figure 
1, page 23). 
Neck. The space between the throat and the breast in front, and between the hind 
head and shoulders behind. It is divided into foreneck and hindneck whose meanings 
are obvious (Figure 1, page 23). 
Order. In zoological classification a group of families having strong enough mutual 
resemblance to separate them from all other groups. It is next larger than the family 
and is the largest subdivision of birds that we have to deal with in Canada (See page 5). 
Pectinate. Furnished with comb-like teeth. In ornithology usually applied to the 
claws of some species that are so furnished (Figure 19, page 26). 
Pelagic. Living largely or almost entirely at sea. 
Pensile. Applied to nests that hang suspended like a bag between the forks of a 
branch or other such support, with nothing supporting from below. 
Primaries. The large flight feathers secured to the first joint of the wing from the 
wrist to the tip (See Secondaries). ("Figure 1, page 23.) 
Race. As used here, practically synonymous with subspecies. In general, any 
group within a species exhibiting recognizable common characters differentiating it from 
others of the same species. 
Rufous. Of a red or reddish colour. 
Rump. The lower end of the back just before the root of the tail (Figure 1, page 23). 
Secondaries. The large flight feathers secured to the second joint of the wing 
between the wrist and the elbow (See Primaries). (Figure 1, page 23). 
