GLOSSARY 
413 
Sternum, The breast bone. In a bird a deeply keeled structure to which the wing 
muscles are attached. 
Subspecies. In ornithological classification, synonymous with geographical race or 
variety, denoting a division of the species usually correlated with geographic limitations. 
It differs essentially from a full species by showing intergradations with allied races of 
equal rank. Taking the horse as a representative species, the various breeds or strains, 
such as Arab, Clydesdale, or Shetland pony are subspecies (See page 5, for discussion). 
Superciliary Stripe. A stripe over the eye like an eyebrow-line (Figure 1, page 24). 
Tarsus. The metatarsal bones of the foot fused together into a single bone. This is 
what we popularly regard as the bird’s leg but is properly the foot, extending between the 
juncture of the toes and the end of the “drum stick.” A comparison with the joints of 
the human leg will make it obvious that the knee is between the “drum stick” and the 
“second joint” of the fowl and that the first external joint on the bird corresponds with 
our heel, the “feet” being true toes (Figure 1, page 24). 
Tule (pronounced “Tu-lee”). Scirpzis or bulrush, a round-stemmed, reed-like plant 
growing in the water. 
Type. In zoological nomenclature the “type form” is that form first properly 
described and named and the specimen from w T hich the description was written is the type 
specimen. It does not of necessity mean that the form is typical in the ordinary sense of 
the word, though for convenience it is assumed to be so (See page 7). 
Vermiculation. In descriptions of plumage, vermiculation refers to fine, irregularly 
wavy lines suggesting the pathways of innumerable small worms, from which the word is 
derived. 
Vinaceous. Wine coloured. A peculiar purplish pink shown or suggested in the 
coloration of some birds. 
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