North America
It does not do so any more than an artist's palette shows all the colors of his picture-in fact, I have called this plate my mental palette, and have frequently used two and even three terms to describe a given shade or tint.
It should be clearly understood, therefore, that when grayish brown, for example, is mentioned, it does not follow that the feathers to which the term is applied are of exactly the same color as the plate, but that they are nearer to this color than to any other in the plate. Used even in this general way, the plate will prove a far more definite basis for description than if every one were left to form his own idea of the colors named.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
Ad. Adult; a fully matured bird.
A. V. Accidental visitant (see page 12).
B.
Bill.
B. from N.
Bill from nostril.
The sign employed to designate female sex (see page 27). Im. Immature; the term is generally applied to birds less than a year old, or to those which have not acquired the plumage of the adult.
L. Total length. 8 The sign employed to designate male sex (see page 27). Permanent resident (see page 12).
Summer resident (see page 12).
P. R.
S. R.
T.
Tail.
Tar.
Tarsus.
T. V.
Transient visitant (see page 12).
W.
Wing.
W. V.
Winter visitant (see page 12).
THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE NINETIETH MERIDIAN.
KEY TO ORDERS AND FAMILIES.
THE WATER BIRDS. a 13 113 b C 13 FIG. 5.