A History of North American Birds; Land Birds; Vol. 3 of 3

by Spencer Fullerton Baird; T. M. Brewer; Robert Ridgway

• 56. Trunk (Truncus). That portion of the body enclosing the viscera and intestines, and carrying the neck and head at one end, the tail at the other, as also the four limbs.
  • 57. Back (Dorsum). The portion of the upper surface of the trunk, from the neck to the rump, and corresponding to the dorsal and sacral vertebræ.
    • 58. Upper back (Interscapulium). The upper portion of the back, or along the dorsal vertebræ; between the shoulder-blades, and opposite the breast, sometimes called dorsum anticum.
    • 59. Lower back (Tergum). The lower portion of the back along the saeral region, from the upper back to the rump, and opposite the belly, sometimes called dorsum posticum.
  • 60. Rump (Uropygium). The portion of the upper side of the trunk corresponding to the caudal vertebræ.
  • 61. Mantle (Stragulum; Pallium). The back and the outside of the folded wings taken together.
• 61½. Ventral region (Regio ventralis). Under side of body, including breast and abdomen.
  • 62. Breast (Pectus). The most anterior portion of the lower surface of trunk, representing the region of the sternum or breast bone (between the jugulum and the abdomen).
  • 63. Abdomen (Abdomen). The under side of body, between the breast and the anal region.
    • 64. Epigaster (Epigastrium). The anterior portion of abdomen, next to the breast.
    • 65. Belly (Venter). The hinder portion of the abdomen, next to the anal region or crissum.
  • 66. Anal region (Crissum). The region around the anus, below the tail, and opposite to the rump. Frequently includes under tail coverts.
  • 67. Flanks (Hypochondria). The sides of the soft parts of the body.
  • 68. Humeral region (Regio humeralis). The anterior portion of the sides; that in which the wing is implanted.

E. The Tail (Cauda).

• 69. Tail (Cauda). The feathers forming the posterior extremity of the body, implanted on the os coccygis, or rump bone.
  • 70. Tail feathers (Rectrices). The long individual feathers belonging to the tail.
  • 71. Tail coverts (Calypteria). The feathers overlying and covering the base of the tail feathers; the
    • 72. Upper (superiores) being those above, and
    • 73. Lower (inferiores) those below; sometimes concealing or projecting beyond the tail.

Note.—Tegmina (73½) are coverts in general, whether of wing or tail. Calypteria are tail coverts. Tectrices (83), wing coverts.

F. The Wings (Alæ).

• 74. Wings (Alæ). The anterior pair of limbs of the bird, used in flight.
  • 75. Primary quills, or quills of the first series; Hand-quills (Remiges primariæ). The (usually) ten stiff feathers inserted on the hand or first joint (metacarpus and digit), or from the bend of the wing to the tip.
  • 76. Secondary quills or quills of the second series; Arm-quills (Remiges secundarii; Pennæ cubili). The inner quills, or those inserted along the posterior edge of the forearm or cubitus. The innermost of these quills, sometimes longer or different from the rest, are frequently called tertials. (Pennæ tertiariæ.)
  • 77. Bend of the wing (Flexura, Plica). The angle of junction of the hand-joint and that of the forearm.
  • 78. Armpit (Axilla). The under side of the insertion of the wing into the body.
  • 79. False or Bastard wing (Alula). A series of several stiffened feathers on the edge of the wing, overlying and exterior to the primary quills, and inserted on the thumb joint of the hand.
  • 80. Scapulars (Pennæ scapulares). Stiffened feathers inserted on the shoulder-blade or the insertion of arm (humerus), and filling up the interval between the secondary quills and the body.
  • 81. Axillars (Pennæ axillares). Similar feathers connecting the under surface of the wing and the body, and concealed in the closed wing.
  • 82. Speculum, or Mirror (Speculum alæ). A brilliantly colored portion of the wing especially in the ducks, over the extremities of the secondary quills, and framed in on one side (in the closed wing) by the primary quills, or the other by the scapulars.
  • 83. Wing coverts (Tectrices). The smaller feathers of the wing. The
    • 84. Upper (superiores), side above or outer. The
    • 85. Lower (inferiores), below, or inside, and overlying the bases of the quills. These and the quills form the surfaces of the wings.
    • 86. Primary coverts (Tectrices primariæ). The feathers, which either
      • 87. Upper or
      • 88. Under overlie the bases of the primary quills. These are on the upper or under surface of the wing; not often distinguished in descriptions.
    • 89. Secondary coverts (Tectrices secundariæ). The feathers which, as
      • 90. Upper and
      • 91. Under, cover the bases of the secondary quills, on the upper or under surface of the wings, being generally those referred to as “coverts.”
    • 92. Greater coverts (Tectrices majores). The longest coverts projecting beyond the rest, and resting directly upon the bases of the secondary quills.
    • 93. Lesser coverts (Tectrices minores). The succession of many series of small feathers beginning at and covering the anterior edge of the wing, very small at first and increasing in size behind.
    • 94. Middle coverts (Tectrices mediæ). One or more rows of coverts, intermediate in size as well as position, between the lesser and greater coverts.
  • 95. Edge of the wing (Campterium; Margo carpi). The small feathers covering the anterior edge of the wing, both along the forearm and the hand or first joint, including the bend of the wing.

G. The Legs (Pedes).

• 96. Legs (Pedes). The posterior pair of limbs inserted in the pelvis, and used in walking or running.
  • 97. Thigh (Femur). The basal joint of the leg, its head articulating with the pelvis. This is generally imbedded in the flesh, and covered by the skin so as not to be appreciable, especially in the prepared specimen.
  • 98. Shin (Tibia). The second or middle joint of the leg, articulated above to the thigh, below to the tarsus. The upper part, sometimes the whole, is enveloped in flesh, and covered by skin and feathers; sometimes the lower extremity is covered by horny plates, the
  • 99. (Cnemidium).
  • 100. Foot joint (Podarthrum). The junction of the tarsus below with the foot.
  • 101. Podotheca (Podotheca). The horny or skinny covering of lower tibia, tarsus, and feet.
  • 102. Knee (Genu). The junction of the thigh with the leg, usually concealed by the skin.
  • 103. Heel joint (Suffrago). The junction of the leg with the tarsus.
  • 103½. Tarsus (Tarsus). The third joint of the leg and next to the tibia; covered generally with horn, sometimes with naked skin or feathers, never with flesh; the toes are articulated to its lower extremity. This joint corresponds to the ankle joint of the human body.
    • 104. Instep, or Front of tarsus (Acrotarsium). The anterior face of the tarsus, usually covered by small plates, which in the higher groups are united into one; sometimes covered by skin.
    • 105. Side of tarsus (Paratarsium).
    • 106. Back of tarsus (Planta tarsi). Homologically the Sole (Planta).
    • 107. Heel (Calcaneus; Talus). The upper posterior extremity of the tarsus.
    • 108. Spur (Calcar). Any bony sharp process or spine implanted on the tarsus, as in the rooster.
    • 109. Scutellæ (Scutella). The succession of small, usually rectangular plates, applied against the anterior face of the tarsus, and the upper surface of toes. These sometimes encircle the tarsus completely, meeting on the inner side; sometimes reach half round with similar half-rings on the back side of the tarsus; are sometimes divided into polygonal plates; are sometimes fused into a continuous plate, either anteriorly or laterally. Modifications of structure in this respect indicate differences in rank and systematic position of the highest value.
    • 110. Scutellate tarsus. When the tarsus is covered with transverse or polygonal scales, as described above.
    • 111. Booted tarsus. Where the anterior face is covered with a continuous horny plate not divided into scutellæ.
  • 112. Foot (Pes). The toes and tarsus taken together.
    • 113. Top of foot (Acropodium). The entire upper surface of the foot.
    • 114. The track (Pelma). The entire lower surface of the foot.
    • 115. Heel pad (Pterna; Tuber). The posterior portion of the pelma, immediately under the joint of the foot, and frequently prominent.
  • 116. Toes (Digiti). The, usually four, sometimes three, very rarely two, articulated portions of the leg hinged on the lower extremity of the tarsus. When all four are present, one is usually behind, sometimes two before, and two behind.
    • 117. Top of toes (Acrodactylum). The upper surface of the toes individually.
    • 118. Soles of toes (Hypodactylum). The lower or plantar surface of the toes individually.
    • 119. Side of toes (Paradactylum). The sides, in any way distinguished from the soles.
    • 120. Phalanges. The several bones composing a toe.
    • 121. Claw (Ungues). The horny tips sheathing the last joint of the toes.
    • 122. Claw joint (Rhizonychium). The terminal bone of the toe, carrying or armed with the claws.
    • 123. Pads (Tylari). The swellings or bulbs on the under side of the phalanges. Those Toes are
    • 124. Anterior which are directed forwards;
    • 125. Posterior, directed backwards;
    • 126. Exterior, on the outer side of the foot;
    • 127. Interior, on the inner side of the foot; the
    • 128. Middle toe is the central of three toes directed forwards.
    • 129. Hind toe (Hallux). The single toe directed backwards. This is homologically the first or great toe directed backward. It is
    • 130. Insistent (insistens), when the tip at least touches the ground, but the base raised above the level of the rest;
    • 131. Incumbent (incumbens), when its whole under surface touches the ground; and
    • 132. Elevated (elevatus; amotus), when raised so high that the tip does not touch the ground at all.
    • 133. Unarmed toe (Digitus muticus). Toe without a claw. The tarsus is unarmed when without a spur.
    • 134. Fringed toe (Digitus lomatinus). A lateral membranous margin to the toes. This
    • 135. Fringe (Loma) may be
    • 136. Continuous (continuum), or
    • 137. Lobed or Scolloped (lobatum).
    • 138. Membrane (Palama). A skin either soft or covered with scales or feathers connecting two adjacent toes together at the base, and sometimes extending to or beyond their tips. The foot so constructed is called
    • 139. Palmate (palmatus) when the anterior toes only are so connected and
    • 141. Oared (Steganopus), where all the toes, including the hinder, are so connected in the cormorants, etc. The feet may be half, or semipalmate; entirely or totipalmate.

Note. In the usual arrangement of the toes, of three before and one behind, the hinder corresponds to the great toe of man, or the first; the inner anterior is the second; the middle is the third; and the outer is the fourth. When the toes are in pairs or two before and two behind, it is the outer or fourth toe that is turned backwards, as is the woodpeckers. In the Trogons, however, the inner toe is reversed

. With scarcely an exception in birds, the hinder or first toe has two joints; the inner (2d) has three; the middle (3d) has four; and the outer (4th) has five, or a formula of 2.3.4.5. In the typical Caprimulgidæ the outer toe has only four phalanges the formula being 2.3.4.4. Finally, in some Cypselidæ (Cypselus and Panytila), we have the middle and outer toes with three joints only each, the formula being 2.3.3.3. When there are but three toes, the hinder or first is wanting; the ostrich (Struthio) has but two toes, lacking the first and second.