Lac´erate, Lacin´iate, a. Cut or slashed on the edge or end into a fringe or brush.
Lach´rymal (bone), a. A large stout bone forming part of the orbit.
Lacu´na, n. Small pit or depression; oftener, an open space or vacuity, as in the palate.
Lacu´næ, n. pl. Certain small excavations in bone and in mucous membrane.
Lacus´trine, a. Lake-inhabiting.
Lamb´doid, a. L-shaped.
Lamel´la, n.; pl. lamellæ, Lam´ina, n.; pl. laminæ, A thin plate or scale; a plate-like process. The processes inside a duck’s bill are lamellæ; the individual barbs of a feather are laminæ.
Lam´ellate, Lam´inate, a. Having, or composed of, laminæ, or series of plates.
Lamelliros´tral, a. Having a lamellate bill.
Lamelliros´tres, n. pl. A group of lamellate-billed birds (the duck tribe).
Lan´ceolate, a. Lance-head shaped; tapering narrowly at one end, less so at the other.
Larynge´al, a. Pertaining to the larynx.
Lar´ynx, n. Adam’s-apple, hollow cartilaginous organ, a modification of the windpipe either at the top or bottom, but especially the former; the lower larynx being called Syrinx (which see).
Lat´eral, a. To or towards the side; on either hand from the middle line.
Lat´erally, a. Sidewise.
Latis´simus, a. for n. A certain muscle of the back.
Legs. (96.)
Lens (crystalline), n. A circular biconvex transparent body in the eye which brings rays of light to a focus.
Lesser Wing-coverts, n. pl. The smaller anterior set of secondary coverts in several series upon the plica alaris.
Leva´tor, n. Generic name of muscles that elevate; as, levator palpebræ, lifter of the eyelid.
Lig´ament, n. Fibrous band or sheet binding bones or other structures together.
Ligamen´tum Nu´chæ, n. A particular strong elastic ligament along the nape and cervix of many animals.
Ligamen´tum Te´res, n. A particular strong fibrous cord holding the head of the femur in its socket.
Lim´bate, a. Having edging of one color against another.
Li´mes Facia´lis, n. Facial outline; line of the feathers all around the bill.
Limico´læ, n. pl. A group of shore-waders, as plover, snipe, etc.
Limic´oline, a. Shore-inhabiting.
Lin´ear, a. Narrow, with straight parallel sides; uniformly narrow for a long distance.
Lin´gua, n. Tongue.
Linis´ci, n. pl. Reticulations of the podotheca. (Little used.)
Liv´er, n. See Gland.
Lo´bate, Lobed, a. Furnished with membranous flaps (said chiefly of toes). See Lomatinus. (137.)
Lobe, n. Membranous flap (generally curved, but may be straight-edged). See Loma.
Lo´ma, n. Lobe; membranous fringe or flap. (135.)
Lomat´inus, a. Furnished with lobes or flaps. (134.)
Long-exsert´ed, a. Said of tail-feathers abruptly much longer than the rest.
Longipen´nes, n. pl. A group of long-winged swimming-birds, the gulls, terns, and petrels.
Longipen´nine, a. Having long wings (reaching, when folded, beyond the tail).
Longiros´tral, a. Having a long bill (longer than the head).
Longiros´tres, n. pl. An obsolete group of long-billed wading birds.
Longis´simus, a. for n. A certain muscle of the back.
Longitu´dinal, a. Running lengthwise, or in direction of the antero-posterior axis of the body.
Lon´gus Col´li. A certain muscle of the neck.
Lo´ral, a. Pertaining to the lore.
Lore, Lo´rum, n. Space between eye and bill. (39.)
Lower Back. (59.) See Tergum.
Lower Jaw. Lower Mandible. (11.) See Mandible.
Lower Parts. (6.) See Gastræum.
Lower Wing-coverts. (85.) See Tectrices.
Lower Tail-coverts. See Calypteria, Crissum, Tectrices.
Lum´bar, a. Pertaining to, or situate in, the loins. In birds, a lumbar region or lumbar vertebræ are not well distinguished, if at all; and in many, rib-bearing vertebræ continue into the sacral region.
Lumbric´iform, a. Same as Vermiform (which see).
Lu´nulate, a. Narrowly crescentic.
Lu´teous, a. Clay-colored.
Lymphat´ic, a. or n. Pertaining to lymph; an absorbent vessel.
Ly´rate, a. Lyre-shaped, as the tail of Menura superba or Tetrao tetrix.
Mac´erated, a. Soaked to softness.
Mac´ula, n. A spot.
Mac´ulate, a. Spotted.
Mag´num, a. for n. One of the carpal bones.
Ma´la, n. Basal portion of outside of lower jaw, usually feathered. (Sometimes used for corresponding portion of upper jaw; the site and boundary of mala and gena are not well determined, and vary with writers. Both lie on side of head, back of bill, and under lore, eye, and ear.) (26.)
Ma´lar Re´gion. Same as mala.
Malleo´lus, n.; pl. malleoli. The enlarged articular surface of the bottom of the tibia; in birds formed by confluence of the two proximal tarsal ossicles.
Mal´leus, n. A bone of the inner ear of mammalia, held by high authority as probably homologous with the Os Quadratum (which see).
Mam´ma, n. Teat.
Mam´mary, a. Pertaining to the teats, or function of lactation.
Man´dible, Mandib´ula, n. Jaw. Properly the under jaw, the upper jaw being maxilla. (11.)
Mandib´ular, a. Pertaining to the under jaw. (Maxillary relates to the upper jaw.)
Manduca´tion, n. Mastication.
Mandu´catory, a. Pertaining to mastication.
Mantle, n. (61.) See Stragulum and Pallium.
Manu´brium Ster´ni, n. (Literally “handle.”) Process of breast-bone on front border at root of keel.
Man´us, n. Hand; all of the wing, excepting the feathers, which lies beyond the wrist; the metacarpus and digits, with associate soft parts. It corresponds with pes.
Mar´bling, n. Fine spotting and streaking intermixed; variegation like marble. The markings are more distinct than in clouding or nebulation.
Mar´ginal Fringe, n. See Loma. (135.)
Mar´go, n. Margin. Margo mentalis, inner boundary of the forks of the mandible. Margo malaris, boundary of the base of the mala.
Marsu´pium, n. Vascular, erectile, membranous organ in the back chamber of the eye of birds, supposed to aid in accommodation of vision. Also called pecten.
Masse´ter, n. One of the muscles that effect mastication.
Mas´tax, n. “Side of the forepart of head, adjacent to the base of the bill.” (37.) (Little used, and undistinguished from lore.)
Mas´toid, a. Name of a process of the temporal bone.
Ma´trix, n. Mould. Tissue or organ containing something and determining its form or other condition.
Maxil´la, n. Jaw, especially the upper jaw, or maxilla superior; the maxilla inferior being especially called mandibula. (10.)
Max´illar, Max´illary, a. Pertaining to the upper jaw. Maxillary bone, the cheek-bone; in birds an inconsiderable bone of the bill itself, not of the cheek.
Max´illo-pal´atine (bone), n. Certain paired bone of the upper jaw in the palate.
Mea´tus, n. Passage or canal. Meatus auditorius, ear-passage.
Me´dian, a. Lying in the middle line. Opposed to lateral.
Mediasti´num, n. One of the thoracic partitions.
Medul´la, n. Marrow. Medulla spinalis, spinal cord. Medulla oblongata, tract of nerve matter between cerebellum and spinal cord proper.
Mel´anism, n. State of coloration resulting from excess of black or dark pigment; a frequent condition of hawks.
Melanis´tic, Melanot´ic, a. Affected with melanism.
Mem´brana Putam´inis, n. The lining membrane of the egg-shell, formed of dense modified albumen.
Mem´brane, n. Thin soft sheet of various structure covering a part or organ. Cerebral or spinal membrane. See Meninges. Nictitating membrane, the third or inner eyelid of birds, which sweeps across the ball. Soft skinny covering of the bill of many birds is said to be membranous. Webbing of the toes is the interdigital membrane. Loma is a fringed membrane.
Mem´brum, n.; pl. membra. Any limb, or other peripheral part, as a bill, as distinguished from body proper or truncus.
Menin´ges, n. pl. Envelopes of the brain or spinal cord; especially the dura mater and pia mater. (The singular, meninx, is scarcely used.)
Men´tal, a. Pertaining to the chin.
Men´tum, n. Chin; soft parts between the branches of the lower jaw.
Mesenceph´alon, n. A certain brain-tract, the second from behind.
Mesenter´ic, a. Pertaining to the mesentery.
Mes´entery, n. A fold of the peritoneum binding the intestines in place.
Mesera´ic, a. Same as Mesenteric (which see).
Me´sial, a. In the middle; same as median.
Meso- (in composition). Middle; median.
Mesomet´rium, n. Partially muscular peritoneal fold supporting the oviduct.
Mesorhi´nium, n. Portion of bill between the nostrils. (Little used.)
Mesoster´num, n. Middle segment of the breast-bone.
Metacar´pal, a. or n. Pertaining to the metacarpus; particularly the metacarpal bone.
Metacar´pus, n. Hand, exclusive of the fingers; segment of the wing between the carpus and the digits.
Metagnath´ous, a. Cross-billed; having the points of the mandibles passing each other on the right and left.
Metatar´sal, a. Pertaining to the metatarsus; particularly the metatarsal bone.
Metatar´sus, n. Foot, exclusive of the toes; segment of the leg between the tarsus and the digits, commonly called the shank, and in descriptive ornithology usually known as the tarsus. The metatarsus, however, has a distal tarsal ossicle confluent with it, so that it is actually tarso-metatarsus. In birds, the metatarsus proper (exclusive of the confluent tarsal bone) consists of three parallel metatarsal bones, more or less completely confluent, and of the associated accessory metatarsal bone which bears the hallux. Compare Tarsus.
Metatar´sus Hal´lucis, n. The accessory metatarsal bone, as just said.
Mid´dle Toe, n. The third toe in order of reckoning, with few exceptions four-jointed. When the fourth toe is reversed, as in all zygodactyle birds except trogons, it becomes the outer anterior toe; in trogons, and a few birds in which the true inner or second toe is wanting, it becomes the inner anterior toe. It is never versatile. It rarely has only three joints, like the second toe. (128.)
Mid´dle Wing-cov´erts, or Me´dian Cov´erts. The series of upper coverts of the secondary set, situate in one or more rows between the greater and lesser coverts. They are usually recognized by their overlapping each other in the reverse direction (i.e. inner border of one overlapping outer border of the next one) from the others, whence they are sometimes called tectrices perversæ. (94.)
Migra´tion, n. Periodical (but sometimes irregular) journeyings, or change of abode, of birds at certain seasons, to secure food, climate, or other physical conditions of environment best suited to their wants. Migration is generally meridional (north-south), and believed by some to be mainly accomplished along a magnetic meridian; but it is often quite otherwise, influenced by topography, etc., or altogether capricious. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal migration is northward, the autumnal in the opposite direction.
Mime´sis, n. Mimicry; mocking; simulated resemblance in voice, shape, color, etc.
Mimet´ic, a. Imitative; given to mimicry. Mimetic analogy, simulated resemblance in superficial respects, such as many insects bear to the twigs or leaves they rest upon.
Mir´ror, n. See Speculum. (82.)
Mol´ecule, n. Embryo part of the impregnated ovum. See Cicatriculum.
Mol´lipilose, a. Softly downy.
Monog´amous, a. Pairing; mating with a single one of the opposite sex. Birds of which the male assists in incubation and care of the young are called doubly monogamous.
Monog´amy, n. The paired state.
Monomor´phic, a. Of the same or essentially similar type of structure. Opposed to polymorphic.
Monoto´kous, a. Uniparous; laying a single egg.
Mon´ster, n. Any malformed animal.
Morphol´ogy, n. The science of form. The doctrine of the laws of form. Structure itself, considered as to its principles; e.g. the morphology of the odontoid process of the axis is centrum of the atlas, the morphological interpretation of the tibial condyles is tarsal ossicles. The segment called metatarsus is, morphologically, tarso-metatarsus. Homology rests upon morphology; analogy is generally predicable upon teleology.
Mor´sus Diabol´icus, n. An epithet of the infundibuliform orifice of the oviduct which takes in the ova.
Mucip´arous, a. Producing mucus.
Mu´cous Mem´brane, n. Lining of the alimentary and other interior tracts of the body, secreting mucus.
Mu´cro, n. A sharp spine.
Mu´cronate, a. Spine-tipped, as the tail of a swift.
Mu´cus, n. Peculiar secretion of the mucous membrane.
Multif´idus, a. for n. A certain spinal muscle.
Multip´arous, a. Producing many young.
Mus´cle, n. (musculus, pl. musculi). Organ of animal motion, consisting of contractile fibre, the shortening of which draws upon attached parts. With the muscular tissue is usually associated a fibrous ligament, the tendon or “leader.” Voluntary muscles have striped fibre, contracting at will of the animal; such are all those of the general system, moving the bones, effecting locomotion, mastication, etc. Involuntary muscles mostly have plain fibre contractile under special stimuli without obedience to the will; such are those of the intestines, etc.
Mus´cular, a. Pertaining to muscle; having muscle or composed of muscle; resulting from muscle: as, muscular fibre, muscular organ, muscular exertion. Also, strong, vigorous: the falcon is a muscular bird.
Mu´ticus, a. Unarmed; as, a toe without a claw, an unspurred tarsus. (133.)
Myelenceph´alon, n. Whole cerebro-spinal column.
My´elon, n. The spinal cord.
Myolem´ma, n. Sheath of muscular fibre.
Myol´ogy, n. Doctrine or description of the muscles.
Myx´a, n. End of the mandible, as far as the symphysis, corresponding to the dertrum of the maxilla. (25).
Nan´us, a. or n. Dwarf; pigmy.
Nape, n. (49.) See Nucha.
Nar´is, n.; pl. nares. Nostril (always paired). (28½.) The external nares open upon the bill, or its cere, in very various shape and position; the internal nares open slit-wise upon the back part of the palate.
Na´sal, a. Pertaining to the nostrils. Nasal bones, a pair at the root of the upper mandible.
Nas´cent, a. About being born; beginning to grow or exist.
Nata´tion, n. Act of swimming.
Natato´res, n. pl. A group of swimming-birds.
Natato´rial, a. Capable of swimming; belonging to swimming-birds.
Nearc´tic, a. Indigenous to the northern portion of the Western Hemisphere.
Nebula´ted, a. Clouded with various indistinct colors.
Neck, n. (47.) See Collum.
Neogæ´an, n. Indigenous to the Western Hemisphere or “New World.”
Neos´sine, n. Substance of the “edible birds’-nests.”
Neossol´ogy, n. Study of young birds.
Neotrop´ical, a. Indigenous to the tropical portion of the Western Hemisphere.
Ner´vine, n. Nerve substance.
Neu´ral, a. Pertaining to nerves. Neural canal, the tube of the backbone. Neural spine, the so-called spinous process of a vertebra. Neural axis, cerebro-spinal axis. Neural arch, see Neurapophysis.
Neurapoph´ysis, n. The laminate process of a vertebra, which, meeting its fellow at the neural spine, closes the canal for transmission of the spinal cord.
Neurilem´ma, n. Sheath of nerve fibre.
Neurol´ogy, n. Study of the nerves.
Nic´titating Mem´brane, n. The third or inner eyelid of birds.
Nidifica´tion, n. Nest-building; mode of nesting.
Ni´dus, n. Nest.
Ni´sus Formati´vus, n. The formative tendency; the unknown law which determines the rudiment of an animal to take its proper shape, “each after its kind.” “Plastic force.”
Node, No´dus, n. A swelling; hence, a joint, as bones usually enlarge at their articulating extremities. Compare Internode.
Nomen´clature, n. The sum of the words or terms peculiar to any department of knowledge; as, ornithological nomenclature; in this sense equivalent to terminology. Also, the naming of objects according to some fixed principle; as, the binomial nomenclature. It is essential to the integrity of nomenclature that it should rest upon classification, or taxonomy.
Non-. Not. A frequent prefix in scientific literature, denoting negation, used much like dis-, un-, in-, etc.
Nos´tril, n. (28½.) See Naris.
Notæ´um, n. The entire upper part of a bird. (5.)
No´tha, a. Spurious. By ala notha has been meant the scapular, axillar, and tertiary feathers collectively, which are also called parapterum.
No´tochord, n. Primitive condition of the backbone.
Nu´cha, n. Nape; upper part of cervix, next to occiput. (49.)
Nu´chal, a. Pertaining to the nape.
Nu´cleated, a. Containing a special cell or cells.
Nucleo´lus, n. Cell or point within a nucleus.
Nu´cleus, n. Special cell within another.
Nu´trient, a. Nourishing; nutritious.
Nutri´tion, n. Repair of waste that ensues by decomposition in animal life, and promotion of growth, with supply of new assimilable material. Alimentation is the act of supply; aliment or nutriment the supply; nutrition the result of its assimilation.
Oared (foot), a. Having the hind toe, as well as the others, full-webbed. See Steganopodous. (140.)
Obcor´date, a. Inversely heart-shaped.
Oblique´, a. Indirect; aslant. Also, name of certain abdominal muscles.
Ob´long, a. Longer than broad.
Obo´vate, a. Inversely ovate.
Obscure´, a. Dark; not evident; little known; faintly marked.
Ob´solete, a. Disused; little used. Also, synonymous with obscure, as obsolete spots; also, synonymous with imperfect or rudimentary: the hind toe of the petrel is obsolete.
Obtura´tor, n. A muscle, membrane, and foramen of the pelvis are respectively so called.
Obtuse´, a. Blunt. Opposed to acute.
Occip´ital, a. or n. Pertaining to the hind-head; as, occipital bone, occipital region.
Oc´ciput, n. The hind head. (33.)
Ocel´lus, n. (Literally “little eye.”) Distinct rounded spot of color, like the “eyes” of a peacock’s tail.
Och´rey, Och´reous, a. Color of yellow ochre.
Oc´reate, a. Booted. See Boot and Caligula.
Oc´ulo-mo´tor, n. A nerve of the eye-muscles.
Oc´ulus, n. Eye. (The adjective ocular being applied chiefly to processes and results of sight, much like visual, rather than to physical attributes, the word orbital is used for the latter instead.)
Odon´toid (process), a. A part of the axis (second cervical vertebra) is so called.
Œsoph´agus, n. Gullet; tube conveying food from mouth to stomach.
Olec´ranon, n. Upper back part of the ulna, not prominent in birds.
Olfac´tory, a. Pertaining to the sense of smell.
Oligomy´oid, a. Having few or imperfect syringeal muscles among Passeres.
Oligoto´kous, a. Producing few young.
Oliva´ceous, a. Of a mixed green and brown color.
Omniv´orous, a. Eating anything; feeding indiscriminately.
O´moplate, n. Shoulder-blade. (Omo-, in composition, is a prefix referring to the shoulder.)
Om´phalos, n. Same as umbilicus, navel.
Oölog´ical, a. Pertaining to oölogy.
Oöl´ogy, n. Science of birds’ eggs.
Oper´culum, n. Lid or cover; flap. The nasal scale, or roofing of the external nostrils, is the operculum naris.
Ophthal´mic, a. Pertaining to the eye. Ophthalmic region is equivalent to orbital region.
Op´tic, a. Pertaining to the eye, or to the sight. The optic nerve issues from the brain and spreads into the retina.
O´ral, a. Pertaining to the mouth.
Orbic´ular, a. Circular.
Or´bit, n. Eye-socket. Also, synonymous with orbita.
Or´bita, n. Circumorbital region taken immediately around the eye-opening. (41.)
Or´bital, a. Pertaining to the orbit.
Orbi´to-sphe´noid, n. Part of the sphenoid bone, forming a portion of the orbit.
Or´der, Or´do, n. In classification, a group pl. ordines, between family and class.
Or´dinal, a. Having the taxonomic rank or value of an order.
Or´gan, n. Any individual part, or system of parts, of the body having a specific physiological function, considered with reference to its action, processes, or results. Eye, organ of sight; wing, organ of flight; stomach, liver, organs of digestion; muscles collectively, organs of locomotion.
Or´ganism, n. Any living body capable of separate existence.
Or´gasm, n. Immoderate excitement; said chiefly of sexual excitement, of which the orgasm is the height. Erethism.
Ornith´ic, a. Pertaining to birds.
Ornithocop´rolite, n. Fossil bird-dung.
Ornithol´ogy, n. Science of birds.
Ornithot´omy, n. Anatomy of birds.
Os, n.; gen. oris; pl. ora. Mouth. Cavum oris, cavity of the mouth.
Os, n.; gen. ossis; pl. ossa. Bone. Many or most names of individual bones are adjectives, used substantively, os or bone being understood; as, hyoid or hyoides, hyoid (bone) or (os) hyoides, etc. The quadrate bone or os quadratum is, as to its physical characters and office, not found in animals above birds; it hinges the lower jaw, pterygoid, and malar bones to the rest of the skull. It is regarded as the homologue of the mammalian incus by some, by others as probably homologous with the mammalian malleus.
Os´cine, a. Musical; capable of singing.
Os´cines, n. pl. A group of singing-birds, possessing a complex vocal organ of numerous syringeal muscles, conferring musical ability. These are regarded as the highest or most perfectly developed of their class.
Os´seous, a. Bony.
Os´sicle, n. A small bone.
Ossif´ic, a. Bony; rather, having power to ossify.
Os´sified, a. Become bony; united by bone.
Os´sify. To form bone; to change into bone.
Osteolog´ical, a. Pertaining to osteology.
Osteol´ogy, n. A description of bones. Also used to denote the osseous system, as myology, neurology, splanchnology, likewise are for their respective systems.
Os´tium, n. Doorway; entrance.
O´tic, a. Pertaining to the ear.
O´tocrane, n. “Skull of the ear”; cavity containing essential organs of hearing.
Outer Covering. (142.) See Indumentum and Ptilosis.
Outer Web (of a feather). (150.) See Pogonium Externum.
O´val, O´vate, O´void, Ovoid´al, a. Egg-shaped; in a general sense, oblong and curvilinear. Distinctions which may subsist between these words are practically ignored among oölogical writers, who use them interchangeably for the oblong curvilinear shape when the curve is unequal at the opposite ends; the terms elliptical, ellipsoidal, being generally used to denote a curve equal at both ends. The transverse contour-line of an egg being always circular, the descriptive terms refer to the lengthwise contour, considered either as of a surface or a solid.
Ova´rium, n.; pl. ovaria, O´vary, n.; pl. ovaries, Organ or tissue in which eggs originate; they subsequently acquire albuminous deposit, and, in birds, a calcareous shell, in the oviduct.
O´viduct, n. Tube conveying eggs from ovary to cloaca.
Ovip´arous, a. Producing eggs which are developed after exclusion from the body. Opposed to viviparous.
Oviposi´tion, n. Act of laying eggs.
O´visac, n. Ovarian cavity in which an egg originates. Graafian vesicle.
Ovula´tion, n. Formation of eggs in, and discharge from, the ovary.
O´vum, n.; pl. ova. Egg. Sometimes synonymous with embryo.
Pab´ulum, n. Food; nourishment; aliment.
Pads. (123.) See Tylari.
Palæarc´tic, a. Indigenous to the northern parts of the Eastern Hemisphere.
Palæogæ´an, a. Indigenous to the Eastern Hemisphere, or “Old World.”
Palæornithol´ogy, n. Science of fossil birds.
Pal´ama, n. Webbing between the toes. (138.)
Pal´atal, Pal´atine, a. Pertaining to the palate; palatine is said especially of certain bones.
Pal´ate, n. Roof of mouth.
Pal´atum, n. The palate.
Pa´lea, n. Fleshy pendulous skin of the chin or throat; dewlap.
Pal´lium, n. Same as Stragulum (which see).
Pal´mar, a. Pertaining to the under surface of the pinion.
Pal´mate, Palma´ted, Pal´miped, a. Web-footed; having the anterior toes full-webbed. Compare Semipalmate and Totipalmate.
Pal´mate Foot. (139.)
Pal´pebra, n. Eyelid.
Pal´pebral, a. Pertaining to the eyelids.
Pal´pebrate, a. Having eyelids.
Palu´dicole, a. Marsh-inhabiting.
Pan´creas, n. A lobulated gland near the stomach, the secretion of which poured into the duodenum aids digestion by making an emulsion of fat.
Pancreat´ic, a. Pertaining to the pancreas; as, pancreatic fluid.
Papil´la, n. Small fleshy nipple-like prominence.
Pap´illate, Pap´illose, a. Having papillæ.
Pap´ulæ, n. pl. Pimples.
Pap´ulous, a. Pimply.
Paradac´tylum, n. Side of the toes, in any way distinguished from top or sole. (119.) (Little used.)
Paragnath´ous, a. Having both mandibles of equal length, their tips meeting.
Parapoph´ysis, n. Certain lateral process of a vertebra.
Parap´terum, n. Of uncertain meaning, but has been applied to the scapular region or its feathers. (Little used.)
Parasit´ic, a. Habitually making use of other birds’ nests.
Paratar´sium, n. Side of the tarsus, in any way distinguished. (105.) (Little used.)
Parato´num, n. Side of upper mandible when distinguished from the culmen. (Little used.)
Parauche´nium, n. Side of neck. (54.) (Little used.)
Paren´chyma, n. Essential substance of a viscus.
Pari´etal (bones), a. for n. Expanded bones forming part of the cranium.
Pari´etes, n. Wall.
Paroccip´ital, a. for n. Certain lateral elements of the occipital bone.
Parot´ic, a. About the ear. (45.)
Parot´id, a. or n. Pertaining to the ear. Especially, a salivary gland situate near the ear.
Pas´seres, n. pl. A group of birds including sparrows and all the higher birds.
Pas´serine, a. Sparrow-like. Belonging to the group of Passeres.
Patel´la, n. Knee-pan; knee-cap. Sesamoid bone of knee-joint.
Pat´ent, a. Open.
Pathol´ogy, n. Physiology of disease.
Pec´ten, n. Same as Marsupium (which see).
Pec´tinate, Pec´tinated, a. Having tooth-like projections, like those of a comb.
Pectina´tion, n. Comb-like toothing.
Pec´toral, a. Pertaining to the breast. The pectoral muscles of birds, three in number, are the principal ones in point of bulk in most birds; they move the wing as a whole.
Pec´tus, n. Breast. (62.) Anterior portion of lower part of trunk, between jugulum and abdomen; properly, the region overlying and containing the breast-bone, but generally restricted to the more forward swelling portion of such region.
Pe´des, n.; pl. of pes. Feet. (96.) Leg beyond the end of the tibia.
Ped´icel, n. Narrow foot-stalk or stem by which an organ is attached. Same as peduncle.
Pelag´ic, a. Frequenting the high seas.
Pel´licle, n. Any very delicate membrane.
Pel´ma, n. The track; entire lower surface of the toes. (114.)
Pel´vic, a. Pertaining to the pelvis.
Pel´vis, n. Cavity of the body formed by the ossa innominata, sacrum, and coccyx; also, these bones collectively.
Pe´nial, a. Pertaining to the penis.
Penicil´late, a. Brushy-tipped.
Pe´nis, n. The male intromittent organ.
Pen´na, n. A feather. Generally a contour-feather (pluma), as distinguished from a down-feather (plumula); particularly, a large stiff feather of the wing or tail, one of the remiges or rectrices.
Penna´ceous, a. Denoting a perfect feather complete in all the parts a feather can have; distinguished from plumulaceous.
Pen´niform, a. Noting a muscle whose fibres are arranged alongside of a central tendon, like the web of a feather.
Per´forate, a. Pierced through. (Said especially of the nostrils when without a septum.)
Pericar´dium, n. Bag holding the heart.
Pericra´nium, n. Soft parts enclosing the skull; especially the periosteum of the bones.
Perios´teum, n. Membranous investment of bone.
Peripheral Parts, n. pl. Superficial, as opposed to interior, parts.
Periph´ery, n. Superficies; contour.
Peristal´tic, a. Denoting the peculiar motion of the intestines by which their contents are urged onward; the peristole.
Peritone´um, n. Thin smooth serous membrane lining the belly, and investing most of the contained organs.
Perone´al, a. Pertaining to the fibula.
Perone´us, a. for n. Name of a fibular muscle.
Per´vious, a. Open. Used synonymously with perforate in respect of the nostrils, but better restricted to the opposite of impervious or closed (as to an external opening).
Pes, n.; pl. pedes (which see). Foot. (96.)
Pes´sulus, n. Cross-bone of the syrinx; bony bar across lower end of windpipe, at point of forking into the bronchi.
Petro´sal, a. (Used substantively.) Same as petrous.
Pe´trous, a. Stony; hence, hard. The petrous bone is an element of the temporal bone.
Pha´lanx, n.; pl. phalan´ges. Commonly any bone of a finger or toe. Equivalent to internode or joint (not articulation). Properly in such application lacking the singular number, phalanges being the row or series of the small digital bones, taken collectively. (120.)
Pharynge´al, a. Pertaining to the pharynx.
Phar´ynx, n. Back compartment of the mouth, leading directly into the œsophagus.
Phren´ic, n. Pertaining to the diaphragm.
Phys´ical, a. Bodily; material. Opposed to mental or psychical.
Physiog´nomy, n. Countenance, in respect to temper of mind; general appearance, in respect to habits.
Physiol´ogy, n. Science of animal or vegetable economy; science of bodily functions, processes, operations. It is less comprehensive than biology, or the science of life, as it takes account only of material or physical, not psychical, offices.
Pi´a Ma´ter, n. Soft vascular membrane immediately investing the brain.
Pi´cine, a. Woodpecker-like.
Pictu´ra, n. Pattern of coloring.
Pig´ment, n. Coloring-matter.
Pil´eus (also written pileum), n. The cap; top of head from base of bill to nape. (30.)
Pin´eal Body, n. A small organ associated with the brain.
Pin´ion, n. Part of the wing beyond the wrist exclusive of the feathers; usually the metacarpus and phalanges; the hand bone. Not technically used synonymously with quill or wing.
Pin´nated, a. Having little wing-like tufts of feathers on the neck.
Pin´niform, a. An epithet of the penguin’s wing; fin-like.
Pisciv´orous, a. Fish-eating.
Pitu´itary, a. That secretes mucus. Pituitary membrane, the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. Pituitary gland, a certain appendage of the brain.
Pla´ga, n. Stripe of color.
Plan´ta, a. Back of tarsus, homologically the sole. (106.)
Plan´tar, a. Pertaining to the sole. A certain muscle is the plantaris.
Plan´tigrade, a. Walking on the back of the tarsus as well as on the soles of the toes. Many pygopodous birds are plantigrade.
Plas´ma, n. Colorless fluid of the blood.
Plas´tic, a. That may be moulded. Forming or serving to form; histogenetic. Plastic force. See Nisus Formativus.
Pleu´ra, n. Membrane lining the thorax and investing the lungs.
Pleurapoph´ysis, n. Segment of the hæmal arch next to the centrum. The vertebral rib of a bird is a pleurapophysis.
Plex´us, n. Union in network of nerves, vessels, or fibres. Said especially of the anastomosis of nerves.
Pli´ca Ala´ris, or Pli´ca Preala´ris, n. The feathered fold of skin on the front border of the wing stretched by an elastic tendon from the shoulder to the wrist, rendering the smooth straight anterior border of the wing. (Plica alaris is rarely used for the fold or bend of the wing.)
Pli´ca Interdigita´lis, n. Webbing between the toes. Same as palama.
Pli´cæ Primiti´væ, n. pl. Primitive folds; certain parallel lines observed in the early embryonal trace.
Plu´ma, n. A feather in general. Compare Penna and Plumula. (1.) A feather of which the two webs are equal and alike is called isopogonous: otherwise anisopogonous.
Plu´mage, n. The feathers, collectively; Ptilosis (which see).
Plum´beous, a. Having the color of tarnished lead; dull bluish-gray.
Plum´iped, a. Having the feet feathered.
Plu´mose, Plu´mous, a. Feathery; in general, having feathers; feathered. Compare Pennaceous and Plumulaceous.
Plu´mula, n. A down feather, lacking certain qualities and parts of a penna.
Plumula´ceous, n. Downy. Compare Pennaceous.
Pneumat´ic, a. Relating to the respiratory system; permeated with air.
Pneumogas´tric, a. Pertaining to lungs and belly; a name of the most extensive cranial nerve.
Podarth´rum, n. Foot-joint; the articulation of the toes collectively with the metatarsus. (100.)
Po´dium, n. Foot. (Same as pes.) Generally used, however, for the toes collectively without the shank. (112.)
Podothe´ca, n. Whole envelope of tarsus and toes. (101.)
Pogo´nium, n.; pl. pogonia. Web or vanes of a feather. (147.) Pogonium externum, outer web (farthest from middle line of the body). Pogonium internum, inner web. See Pluma.
Pol´lex, n. Thumb. The joint which bears the alula is so called, though it is homologous with the index or second finger. Spina pollicaris, or Tuberculum pollicare, the horny spur on the wing of some birds.
Polyg´amous, a. Mating with more than one female, like the domestic cock.
Polymor´phic, n. Of many forms; consisting of, or containing, several different types of structure: as, a polymorphic group.
Polymy´oid, a. Having numerous syringeal muscles; noting a group equivalent to Oscines.
Polyno´mial, n. or a. Name of more than two words. Consisting of several words. The polynomial nomenclature is obsolete.
Polyto´kous, a. Multiparous; producing many young.
Pons, n. Bridge. Certain parts of the brain.
Poplite´al, a. Pertaining to the back of the knee.
Por´tal Circula´tion. Passage of blood from the capillaries of one organ to those of another, as is conspicuous in certain of the digestive viscera.
Postax´ial, a. Situate on the external or posterior (ulnar or fibular) side of a limb.
Poste´rior Portion. (8.) See Uræum.
Posterior Toe. (125.) The hind-toe, or that one directed backward, is generally the hallux; often also the fourth or outer; rarely the second or inner. The hallux is generally meant by posterior toe.
Postor´bital, a. Situate behind the eye.
Pow´der-down Feath´ers, n. pl. Peculiar imperfect feathers, in a matted patch, which grow continually, and as constantly break down, with a scurfy exfoliation, and pervaded with a greasy substance; they are especially conspicuous in the heron tribe, but are also found elsewhere.
Præax´ial, a. Situate on the internal or anterior (radial or tibial) side of a limb.
Præco´ces, n. pl. An obsolete group of birds, able to run about and feed themselves at birth.
Præco´cial, n. Belonging to the Præcoces; having the nature of Præcoces.
Præpec´tus, n. Fore-breast; region of the craw. Not well distinguished from jugulum.
Premax´illary (bone), a. The foremost and principal bone of the upper jaw. Intermaxillary is synonymous.
Prep´uce, n. Foreskin. The homologous structure occurs in some birds. Preputial, pertaining to the foreskin.
Pressiros´tral, a. Having a bill like that of a plover. (Obsolete.)
Prester´num, n. Anterior segment of the breast-bone.
Pri´mary, n.; pl. primaries. Any one of the (usually ten, often nine, rarely eleven) large stiff quills growing upon the pinion or hand-bone, as distinguished from the secondaries which grow upon the forearm. They form the tip of the wing, and much of its surface.
Pri´mary Wing-coverts, n. pl. Those overlying the bases of the primaries.
Proce´res or Pro´ceri, n. pl. Same as Ratitæ (which see).
Prolig´erous, a. See Yolk.
Prona´tion, n. A particular movement of the radius upon the ulna, by which the hand turns over,—in birds it is very slight, if it occur at all. The reverse movement is termed supination. The muscles effecting it are pronators and supinators.
Proöt´ic, a. for n. An element of the auditory capsule.
Prosenceph´alon, n. A certain tract of the brain, the third from behind.
Pro´toplasm, n. Primitive common embryonic tissue, out of which different organs and parts are formed.
Protover´tebræ, n. pl. First trace of the backbones.
Protrac´tile, Protru´sile, a. Susceptible of being thrust forward or out, as the tongue of most woodpeckers.
Proventric´ulus, n. Part of gullet, usually enlarged, next to gizzard, having solvent glands for digestion. It is the true stomach of a bird, as distinguished from the gizzard or grinding stomach.
Prox´imal, a. Proximate; nearest or next to any centre or axis. Opposed to distal or terminal.
Psilopæ´des, n. pl. A group of psilopædic birds, further distinguished by being born weak and helpless, fed and reared in the nest. The term gymnopædes is synonymous.
Psilopæ´dic, a. Having down growing only from the future pterylæ, as the precursor of the future plumage, to which it is subsequently affixed for a while and then falls off.
Pso´as, n. Name of certain pelvic muscles.
Pterapoph´ysis, n. Certain process of cranial bones.
Pter´na, n. Heel-pad. (115.)
Ptero´mata, n. pl. (This word is of uncertain meaning.) (89 ?)
Pter´ygoid (bone), n. A slender bone connecting the quadrate with the palatine.
Pter´yla, n.; pl. pterylæ. Area or tract on the skin where feathers grow.
Pterylog´raphy, n. A description of the plumage, especially with reference to the distribution of the feathers on the skin.
Pterylo´sis, n. Plumage, considered with reference to its distribution on the skin.
Pti´la, n. (This word is of uncertain meaning.) (86 ?)
Ptilopæ´des, n. pl. Ptilopædic birds. Such are generally able to run about at birth, or at least to feed themselves. Dasypædes is synonymous.
Ptilopæ´dic, a. Clothed at birth with floccus, which sprouts not only from the future pterylæ, but also from apteria.
Ptilo´sis, n. Plumage. (3.)
Pu´bic, a. Pertaining to the pubis.
Pu´bis, n. The most anterior bone of the pelvis. In birds the ossa pubis or pubes are separate, there being no pubic symphysis, and directed more or less backward.
Pul´lus, n. A chick; young bird, before its first complete plumage.
Pul´monary, a. Pertaining to the lungs; relating to respiration.
Pul´sus, Pulse, n. Beating of the arteries.
Punc´tate, a. Dotted; pitted; studded with points.
Punc´tum Sa´liens, n. First trace of the embryonic heart.
Pupil´la, n. Central black disc circumscribed by the iris; the pupil (a hole, not a substance).
Pupil´lary, a. Pertaining to the pupil.
Pygop´odes, n. pl. A group of birds distinguished by the far backward position, and deep burial, in common integument, of the legs.
Pygop´odous, a. Belonging to Pygopodes, or having the character of that group.
Py´gostyle, n. Last coccygeal vertebra, of peculiar size and shape in recent birds; also called the vomer.
Pylor´ic, a. Pertaining to the pylorus.
Pylo´rus, n. Opening from gizzard into duodenum; especially, valve guarding this orifice.
Pyr´iform, a. Pear-shaped.
Quadran´gular, a. Four-edged or four-angled.
Quad´rate, a. Squared.
Quad´rate Bone, n. See Os Quadratum. A peculiarly shaped bone interposed between the lower jaw and the rest of the skull.
Quadrilat´eral, a. Four-sided.
Quadriloc´ular, a. Four-chambered, as the heart of higher vertebrates is.
Quar´ry, n. Prey of raptorial birds.
Quill, n. See Penna. (2, 75, 76, 145.)
Qui´nary, a. Noting a certain absurd system of classification which presumes that there are five types, or sets of objects, in every natural group.
Quin´cunx, n. Set of five, arranged thus, quincunx ⁙
Ra´dial, a. Pertaining to the radius.
Ra´dii, n. pl. Barbs of a main feather.
Ra´dii Accesso´rii, n. pl. Barbs of the supplementary feather.
Radio´li, n. pl. Barbules (which see).
Radio´li Accesso´rii, n. pl. Barbules of the supplementary feather, aftershaft or hypoptilum.
Ra´dius, n. Outer bone of forearm.
Ra´mus, n.; pl. rami. Branch or fork. Gnathidea.
Raph´e, n. Line of separation of two parts of an organ when prominent or otherwise distinguished.
Rapto´rial, a. Pertaining to birds of prey.
Rati´tæ, n. pl. Birds with flat sternum, as ostriches, emus or cassowaries, and the apteryx.
Rau´cous, a. Hoarse-voiced.
Rec´trix, n.; pl. rectrices. Quills of the tail. (70.) (The singular is little used.)
Rec´tum, n. Lower straight gut.
Rec´tus, a. Name of certain muscles.
Recurved´, a. Bent regularly and gradually upward.
Reflect´ed, a. Turned backward.
Reflec´tion, n. Play of color changing in different lights.
Reg´imen, n. Diet.
Re´gio, Re´gion, n. Portion of the body in any way distinguished; dorsal region; cervical region.
Re´mex, n.; pl. remiges. Quill of the wing. (75, 76.) (Little used in the singular.)
Re´nal, a. Pertaining to the kidneys.
Re´te, n. Same as plexus.
Retic´ulate, a. Marked with network of lines.
Reticula´tion, n. Network; mosaic.
Ret´ina, n. Expansion of the optic nerve within the eye, upon which images of objects are impressed.
Retrac´tile, a. Susceptible of being drawn back and driven forward as a hawk’s claw.
Retrorse´, a. Directed backward.
Rhach´is, n.; pl. rhachides. Scapus exclusive of calamus; shaft of a feather, bearing the webs, without the hollow horny barrel. (146.) Also, the spinal column.
Rhamphothe´ca, n. Covering of the whole bill. (12.)
Rhi´nal, a. Pertaining to the nose.
Rhinenceph´alon, n. Foremost tract of the brain, the fourth from behind.
Rhinothe´ca, n. Covering of the upper mandible. (13.)