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 grzimek’s
Student Animal Life Resource
••••
 grzimek’s
Student Animal Life Resource
••••
Birds
volume 2
Ducks to Auks
 Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource
Birds

Project Editor Rights and Acquisitions Composition

Melissa C. McDade Sheila Spencer, Mari Masalin-Cooper Evi Seoud, Mary Beth Trimper
Editorial Imaging and Multimedia Manufacturing
Julie L. Carnagie, Madeline Harris, Randy Bassett, Michael Logusz, Dan Wendy Blurton, Dorothy Maki
Heather Price Newell, Chris O’Bryan, Robyn Young
Indexing Services Product Design
Synapse, the Knowledge Link Tracey Rowens, Jennifer Wahi
Corporation

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Grzimek’s student animal life resource. Birds / Melissa C. McDade, project editor.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7876-9235-2 (set hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7876-9236-0
(volume 1) — ISBN 0-7876-9237-9 (volume 2) — ISBN 0-7876-9238-7 (volume 3)
— ISBN 0-7876-9239-5 (volume 4) — ISBN 0-7876-9240-9 (volume 5)
1. Birds—Juvenile literature. I. Grzimek, Bernhard. II. McDade, Melissa C.
QL673.G79 2005
598—dc22 2004015729

ISBN 0-7876-9402-9 (21-vol set), ISBN 0-7876-9235-2 (Birds set),

ISBN 0-7876-9236-0 (v.1), ISBN 0-7876-9237-9 (v.2), ISBN 0-7876-9238-7 (v.3),
ISBN 0-7876-9239-5 (v.4), ISBN 0-7876-9240-9 (v.5)

This title is also available as an e-book

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Printed in Canada
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
BIRDS: VOLUME 1
Readers Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Words to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxvii
Getting to Know Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xli

Tinamous and ratites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Tinamous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Rheas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Cassowaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Emu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Kiwis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Ostrich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Tubenosed seabirds . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... . . . . .41

Albatrosses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . . .45
Shearwaters, petrels, and fulmars . . . . . . ....... . . . . . .53
Storm-petrels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . . .61
Diving-petrels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . . .67

Penguins
Penguins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Loons
Loons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Grebes
Grebes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Pelicans and other fishing birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

Tropicbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103

Contents v
 Frigatebirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Cormorants and anhingas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Boobies and gannets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Pelicans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Wading birds and New World vultures ...... . . . .143
Herons and bitterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .149
Hammerhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .160
Storks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .166
New World vultures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .175
Shoebill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .186
Ibises and spoonbills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .192
Flamingos
Flamingos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200
Diurnal birds of prey ..... ....... ...... . . . .207
Hawks and eagles . . . ...... ........ ....... . . . . .212
Secretary bird . . . . . . ...... ........ ....... . . . . .223
Falcons and caracaras ...... ........ ....... . . . . .229
Species List by Biome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lvii
Species List by Geographic Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxiii
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cix

BIRDS: VOLUME 2
Readers Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Words to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxvii
Getting to Know Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xli
Ducks, geese, swans, and screamers . . . . . . . . . .241
Ducks, geese, and swans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246
Screamers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .261
Chicken-like birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... . . . .266
Moundbuilders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .270
Curassows, guans, and chachalacas . . . . ....... . . . . .279
Guineafowl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .288
Fowls and pheasants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .294
New World quails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .303
Hoatzin
Hoatzin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .310
Cranes, rails, and relatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .315
Mesites and roatelos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320
Buttonquails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .326

vi Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Cranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .333
Limpkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .344
Kagu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349
Rails, coots, and moorhens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .356
Sungrebes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .366
Sunbittern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .372
Trumpeters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376
Seriemas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .382
Bustards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .387

Gulls, terns, plovers, and other shorebirds ... . . . .395

Jacanas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .399
Painted snipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .407
Crab plover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .413
Oystercatchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .417
Stilts and avocets . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .423
Thick-knees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .431
Pratincoles and coursers . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .436
Plovers and lapwings . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .444
Sandpipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .453
Seedsnipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .464
Sheathbills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .469
Gulls, terns, and relatives . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .475
Auks, puffins, and murres . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . .486
Species List by Biome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lvii
Species List by Geographic Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxiii
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cix

BIRDS: VOLUME 3
Readers Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Words to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxvii
Getting to Know Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xli

Sandgrouse
Sandgrouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .497

Pigeons, doves, and dodos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .504

Pigeons and doves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .508
Dodos and solitaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .517

Parrots
Parrots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522

Turacos and plantain eaters

Turacos and plantain eaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .538

Contents vii
 Cuckoos, anis, and roadrunners
Cuckoos, anis, and roadrunners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .545

Owls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .552
Barn owls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .557
Owls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .564

Nightjars . . . . . . . ...... ....... ...... . . . .574

Oilbird . . . . . . . . . . ....... ........ ....... . . . . .579
Frogmouths . . . . . . ....... ........ ....... . . . . .585
Owlet-nightjars . . . . ....... ........ ....... . . . . .591
Potoos . . . . . . . . . . ....... ........ ....... . . . . .596
Nightjars . . . . . . . . ....... ........ ....... . . . . .602

Swifts and hummingbirds . . ....... ...... . . . .610

Swifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ ....... . . . . .615
Tree swifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ ....... . . . . .624
Hummingbirds . . . . . . . . . . . ........ ....... . . . . .630

Mousebirds
Mousebirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .639

Trogons
Trogons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .644

Kingfishers, todies, hoopoes, and relatives ... . . . .653

Kingfishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .658
Todies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .669
Motmots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .676
Bee-eaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .682
Rollers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .691
Hoopoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .701
Woodhoopoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .707
Hornbills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .714

Woodpeckers and relatives . . . . . . . ...... . . . .725

Jacamars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .730
Puffbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .738
Barbets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .747
Toucans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .757
Honeyguides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . .766
Woodpeckers, wrynecks, and piculets . . ....... . . . . .774
Species List by Biome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lvii
Species List by Geographic Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxiii
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cix

viii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

BIRDS: VOLUME 4
Readers Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Words to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxvii
Getting to Know Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xli

Perching birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .789

Broadbills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .793
False sunbirds and asities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .801
Pittas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .807
New Zealand wrens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815
Ovenbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .821
Woodcreepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .830
Ant thrushes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .836
Tapaculos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .845
Tyrant flycatchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .850
Sharpbill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .860
Manakins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .864
Cotingas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .872
Plantcutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .881
Lyrebirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888
Scrub-birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .895
Larks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .901
Swallows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .913
Pipits and wagtails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .924
Cuckoo shrikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .935
Bulbuls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .943
Fairy bluebirds and leafbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .955
Shrikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .962
Vangas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .972
Waxwings and silky flycatchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .979
Palmchat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .988
Hedge sparrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .991
Thrashers and mockingbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .997
Dippers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1004
Thrushes and chats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1013
Babblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1025
Wrens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1036
Old World warblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1050
Old World flycatchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1060
Australian fairy-wrens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1070
Australian warblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1079
Australian chats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1087
Logrunners and chowchillas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1093
Quail thrushes and whipbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1099
Fantails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1105

Contents ix
 Species List by Biome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lvii
Species List by Geographic Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxiii
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cix

BIRDS: VOLUME 5
Readers Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Words to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xxvii
Getting to Know Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xli
Monarch flycatchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1115
Australian robins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1123
Whistlers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1130
Pseudo babblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1139
Australian creepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1145
Long-tailed titmice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1151
Penduline titmice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1158
Titmice and chickadees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1164
Nuthatches and wall creepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1173
Treecreepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1182
Philippine creepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1188
Flowerpeckers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1194
Pardalotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1202
Sunbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1208
White-eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1218
Australian honeyeaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1225
Vireos and peppershrikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1235
New World finches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1244
New World warblers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1258
New World blackbirds and orioles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1268
Finches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1278
Hawaiian honeycreepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1288
Waxbills and grassfinches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1296
Weavers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1306
Sparrows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1318
Starlings and mynas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1326
Old World orioles and figbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1337
Drongos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1345
New Zealand wattlebirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1353
Mudnest builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1360
Woodswallows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1366
Magpie shrikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1372
Bowerbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1380
Birds of paradise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1389
Crows and jays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1398
Species List by Biome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lvii
Species List by Geographic Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lxiii
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cix

x Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Reader’s Guide
Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource: Birds offers readers
comprehensive and easy-to-use information on Earth’s birds. En-
tries are arranged by taxonomy, the science through which liv-
ing things are classified into related groups. Order entries provide
an overview of a group of families, and family entries provide an
overview of a particular family. Each entry includes sections on
physical characteristics; geographic range; habitat; diet; behavior
and reproduction; animals and people; and conservation status.
Family entries are followed by one or more species accounts with
the same information as well as a range map and photo or il-
lustration for each species. Entries conclude with a list of books,
periodicals, and Web sites that may be used for further research.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Each volume of Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource: Birds
includes a pronunciation guide for scientific names, a glossary,
an overview of birds, a list of species in the set by biome, a list
of species by geographic location, and an index. The set has 640
full-color maps, photos, and illustrations to enliven the text, and
sidebars provide additional facts and related information.

NOTES
The classification of animals into orders, families, and even
species is not a completed exercise. As researchers learn more
about animals and their relationships, classifications may
change. In some cases, researchers do not agree on how or
whether to make a change. For this reason, the heading “Num-

Reader’s Guide xi
 ber of species” in the introduction of an entry may read “About
36 species” or “34 to 37 species.” It is not a question of whether
some animals exist or not, but a question of how they are clas-
sified. Some researchers are more likely to “lump” animals into
the same species classification, while others may “split” ani-
mals into separate species.
Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource: Birds has standard-
ized information in the Conservation Status section. The IUCN
Red List provides the world’s most comprehensive inventory of
the global conservation status of plants and animals. Using a set
of criteria to evaluate extinction risk, the IUCN recognizes the
following categories: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically En-
dangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Conservation Dependent,
Near Threatened, Least Concern, and Data Deficient. These
terms are defined where they are used in the text, but for a com-
plete explanation of each category, visit the IUCN web page at
http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/redlists/RLcats2001booklet.html.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks are due for the invaluable comments and sug-
gestions provided by the Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource:
Birds advisors:
• Mary Alice Anderson, Media Specialist, Winona Middle
School, Winona, Minnesota
• Thane Johnson, Librarian, Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma
• Debra Kachel, Media Specialist, Ephrata Senior High
School, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
• Nina Levine, Media Specialist, Blue Mountain Middle
School, Courtlandt Manor, New York
• Ruth Mormon, Media Specialist, The Meadows School, Las
Vegas, Nevada

COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

We welcome your comments on Grzimek’s Student Animal Life
Resource: Birds and suggestions for future editions of this work.
Please write: Editors, Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource:
Birds, U•X•L, 27500 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, Michigan
48331-3535; call toll free: 1-800-877-4253; fax: 248-699-8097;
or send e-mail via www.gale.com.

xii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Pronunciation Guide for
Scientific Names
Acanthisitta chloris uh-kan-thuh-SIT-tuh KLOR-is
Acanthisittidae uh-kan-thuh-SIT-tuh-dee
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa uh-KAN-thih-zuh KRIH-soh-ROH-uh
Acanthizidae uh-kan-THIZ-uh-dee
Accipitridae ak-sip-IT-ruh-dee
Aceros cassidix AH-ser-uhs KAS-sid-iks
Acridotheres tristis AK-rid-uh-THER-eez TRIS-tis
Actenoides concretus ak-TEN-oi-deez con-CREE-tuhs
Actinodura sodangorum AK-tin-uh-DYOOR-uh soh-dan-GOH-
rum
Actophilornis africanus ak-tuh-FIL-or-nis AF-rih-kan-uhs
Aechmophorus occidentalis ek-MOH-for-uhs OK-sih-DEN-tal-is
Aegithalidae ee-jih-THAL-uh-dee
Aegithina tiphia ee-JIH-thin-uh TIF-ee-uh
Aegotheles insignis ee-GO-thel-eez IN-sig-nis
Aegothelidae ee-go-THEL-uh-dee
Agelaioides badius ah-jeh-LAY-oid-eez BAD-ee-uhs
Agelaius phoeniceus ah-jeh-LAY-ee-uhs fee-nih-SEE-uhs
Aix sponsa AKS SPON-suh
Ajaia ajaja ah-JAH-ee-uh AH-jah-juh
Alaemon alaudipes al-EE-mon ah-LAUD-ih-peez
Alaudidae ah-LAUD-uh-dee
Alcedinidae al-sed-IN-uh-dee
Alcidae AL-suh-dee
Amytornis striatus am-IT-or-nis stry-AH-tuhs
Anas platyrhynchos AH-nuhs PLA-tee-RIN-koz

Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names xiii

 Anatidae ah-NA-tuh-dee
Andigena hypoglauca an-DIH-jin-uh HI-poh-GLO-kuh
Anhima cornuta AN-him-uh KOR-nyoo-tuh
Anhimidae an-HIM-uh-dee
Anhinga anhinga AN-hin-guh AN-hin-guh
Anseriformes an-ser-uh-FORM-eez
Anthus spragueii AN-thuhs SPRAG-ee-eye
Aphelocoma californica uh-fel-uh-KOH-muh kal-uh-FORN-
ik-uh
Apodidae a-POD-uh-dee
Apodiformes a-pod-uh-FORM-eez
Aptenodytes forsteri ap-ten-uh-DIE-teez FOS-ter-eye
Apterygidae ap-ter-IJ-uh-dee
Apteryx australis AP-ter-iks au-STRA-lis
Ara macao AR-uh MUH-kow
Aramidae ar-UH-muh-dee
Aramus guarauna AR-uh-muhs GWAR-aw-nuh
Ardea herodias AR-dee-uh hir-OH-dee-uhs
Ardeidae ar-DEE-uh-dee
Arenaria interpres ar-en-AIR-ee-uh IN-ter-preez
Artamidae ar-TAM-uh-dee
Artamus cyanopterus AR-tam-uhs SIGH-an-OP-ter-uhs
Astrapia mayeri as-truh-PEE-uh MAY-er-eye
Atrichornis rufescens a-TRIK-or-nis ROO-fehs-sens
Atrichornithidae a-trik-or-NITH-uh-dee
Attagis gayi AT-uh-jis GAY-eye
Auriparus flaviceps aw-RIP-ar-uhs FLAV-uh-seps
Balaeniceps rex bal-EEN-uh-seps REX
Balaenicipitidae BAL-een-uh-sip-IH-tuh-dee
Balearica regulorum BAL-ih-AR-ik-uh reg-YOO-lor-um
Batis capensis BAT-is KAP-en-sis
Bombycilla cedrorum bom-bih-SILL-uh SEED-roh-rum
Bombycillidae bom-bih-SILL-uh-dee
Botaurus stellaris BOH-tor-uhs STEL-lar-is
Branta canadensis BRAN-tuh kan-uh-DEN-sis
Bubo sumatranus BYOO-boh SOO-mah-TRAN-uhs
Bucconidae buck-ON-uh-dee
Bucerotidae byoo-ser-UH-tuh-dee
Bucorvus leadbeateri BYOO-kor-vuhs LED-bet-er-eye

xiv Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Buphagus erythrorhynchus BYOO-fag-uhs eh-RITH-roh-RIN-
kuhs
Burhinidae bur-HIN-uh-dee
Callaeas cinerea cal-LEE-uhs sin-EAR-ee-uh
Callaeidae cal-LEE-uh-dee
Calypte anna kuh-LIP-tee AN-nuh
Campephagidae kam-pee-FAJ-uh-dee
Campephilus principalis KAM-pee-FIL-uhs PRIN-sih-PAL-is
Campylorhamphus trochilirostris KAM-pie-luh-RAM-fuhs
TRO-kil-ih-ROS-tris
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus KAM-pie-luh-RIN-kuhs
BROO-nee-kap-ILL-uhs
Capitonidae kap-ih-TON-uh-dee
Caprimulgidae kap-rih-MUL-juh-dee
Caprimulgiformes kal-rih-mul-juh-FORM-eez
Caprimulgus indicus KAP-rih-MUL-juhs IN-dih-kuhs
Caprimulgus vociferus KAP-rih-MUL-juhs voh-SIF-er-uhs
Carduelis tristis KAR-doo-lis TRIS-tis
Cariama cristata KAR-ee-ah-muh KRIS-tah-tuh
Cariamidae kar-ee-AH-muh-dee
Casuariidae kas-oo-ar-EYE-uh-dee
Casuarius casuarius kas-oo-AR-ee-uhs kas-oo-AR-ee-uhs
Cathartidae kath-ART-uh-dee
Cephalopterus ornatus SEFF-uhl-OP-ter-uhs AWR-nah-tuhs
Cercomacra cinerascens SIR-koh-MAK-ruh si-NEAR-ass-enz
Certhia americana SIR-thee-uh uh-mer-uh-kAN-uh
Certhiidae sirth-EYE-uh-dee
Chaetura pelagica KEE-tur-uh peh-LAJ-ik-uh
Chalcoparia singalensis kal-kuh-PAIR-ee-uh sin-GAHL-en-sis
Chamaea fasciata kam-EE-uh fah-she-AH-tuh
Chamaepetes unicolor kam-ee-PEET-eez YOO-nih-KUH-luhr
Charadriidae kar-ad-RYE-uh-dee
Charadriiformes kar-ad-rye-uh-FORM-eez
Charadrius vociferus kar-ad-REE-uhs voh-SIF-er-uhs
Chionidae ky-ON-uh-dee
Chionis minor KY-on-is MY-ner
Chiroxiphia linearis ky-roh-ZIF-ee-uh lin-EE-air-is
Chlamydera maculata klam-EE-der-uh mak-yoo-LAH-tuh
Chlidonias niger klih-DON-ee-uhs NY-jer
Cicinnurus regius sih-SIN-yoor-uhs RAY-jee-uhs

Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names xv

 Ciconia ciconia SIK-uh-nee-uh SIK-uh-nee-uh
Ciconiidae sik-uh-NYE-uh-dee
Ciconiiformes sik-uh-nee-uh-FORM-eez
Cinclidae SIN-kluh-dee
Cinclosoma punctatum sin-cluh-SOH-muh PUNK-tah-tum
Cinclus cinclus SIN-kluhs SIN-kluhs
Cinclus mexicanus SIN-kluhs MEK-sih-KAN-uhs
Cinnyris asiaticus SIN-ny-ris AY-zhi-AT-ik-uhs
Cissa chinensis SIS-suh CHIN-en-sis
Cisticola juncidis sis-tuh-KOH-luh JUNK-id-is
Climacteridae kly-mak-TER-uh-dee
Climacteris rufa kly-MAK-ter-is ROO-fuh
Colibri coruscans KOH-lee-bree KOR-us-kans
Coliidae kol-EYE-uh-dee
Coliiformes kol-eye-uh-FORM-eez
Colinus virginianus KOL-eye-nuhs ver-JIN-ee-an-nuhs
Colius striatus KOL-ee-uhs stry-AH-tuhs
Columba livia KUH-lum-buh LIV-ee-uh
Columbidae kuh-LUM-buh-dee
Columbiformes kuh-lum-buh-FORM-eez
Coracias garrulus kor-UH-see-uhs GAR-oo-luhs
Coraciidae kor-uh-SIGH-uh-dee
Coraciiformes kor-uh-sigh-uh-FORM-eez
Coracina typica kor-uh-SEE-nuh TIP-ik-uh
Corvidae KOR-vuh-dee
Corvus corax KOR-vuhs KOR-aks
Corythaeola cristata kor-ih-thee-OH-luh KRIS-tah-tuh
Corythaixoides concolor kor-ih-THAKS-oi-deez CON-kuh-luhr
Cotinga cayana KOH-ting-guh KAY-ah-nuh
Cotingidae koh-TING-guh-dee
Cracidae KRA-suh-dee
Cracticidae krak-TIK-uh-dee
Cracticus torquatus KRAK-tik-uhs TOR-kwah-tuhs
Crax globulosa KRAKS glob-yoo-LOH-suh
Crex crex CREKS CREKS
Cuculidae kyoo-KYOO-luh-dee
Cuculiformes kyoo-kyoo-luh-FORM-eez
Cuculus canorus KYOO-kyoo-luhs KAN-or-uhs
Cyanocitta cristata SIGH-an-uh-SIT-tuh KRIS-tah-tuh
Cyclarhis gujanensis SIGH-klar-is GOO-jan-en-sis

xvi Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Cygnus olor SIG-nuhs OH-lor
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos SIM-bih-RIN-kuhs ma-crow-
RIN-kuhs
Cypsiurus parvus sip-SIH-yoor-uhs PAR-vuhs
Dacelo novaeguineae DAY-sel-oh NOH-vee-GIN-ee-ee
Dendrocolaptidae den-droh-koh-LAP-tuh-dee
Dendroica kirtlandii DEN-droy-kuh KIRT-land-ee-eye
Dendropicos goertae den-droh-PEE-kuhs GER-tee
Dicaeidae die-SEE-uh-dee
Dicaeum ignipectus DIE-see-um IG-nih-PEK-tuhs
Dicruridae die-KRU-ruh-dee
Dicrurus ludwigii DIE-kru-ruhs LOOT-vig-ee-eye
Dicrurus paradiseus DIE-kru-ruhs par-uh-DIE-see-uhs
Diomedea cauta eremite DIE-uh-MED-ee-uh CAW-tuh ER-
ih-mite
Diomedea immutabilis DIE-uh-MED-ee-uh im-myoo-TUH-
bil-is
Diomedeidae die-uh-med-EYE-dee
Donacobius atricapillus don-uh-KOH-bee-uhs ay-trih-kap-
ILL-uhs
Drepanididae dre-pan-ID-uh-dee
Drepanorhynchus reichenowi DRE-pan-uh-RIN-kuhs RYE-
keh-now-eye
Dromadidae droh-MAD-uh-dee
Dromaiidae droh-MAY-uh-dee
Dromaius novaehollandiae DROH-may-uhs NO-vee-hol-
LAND-ee-ee
Dromas ardeola DROH-muhs ar-dee-OH-luh
Drymodes brunneopygia dry-MOH-deez BROO-nee-oh-PIJ-
ee-uh
Dulidae DYOO-luh-dee
Dulus dominicus DYOO-luhs duh-MIN-ih-kuhs
Dumetella carolinensis dum-uh-TELL-uh kar-uh-LINE-en-sis
Eclectus roratus EK-lek-tuhs ROH-rat-uhs
Egretta ibis EE-gret-uh EYE-bis
Emberizidae em-ber-IZ-uh-dee
Epthianuridae ep-thy-an-YOOR-uh-dee
Epthianura tricolor ep-thy-an-YOOR-uh TRY-kuh-luhr
Eremophila alpestris ER-em-uh-FIL-uh al-PES-tris
Esacus magnirostris EH-sak-uhs MAG-nuh-ROS-tris

Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names xvii

 Estrilda astrild ES-tril-duh AS-trild
Estrildidae es-TRIL-duh-dee
Eudyptes chrysolophus YOO-dip-teez krih-soh-LOH-fuhs
Eupetidae yoo-PET-uh-dee
Euplectes orix YOO-plek-teez OR-iks
Eupodotis caerulescens yoo-pod-OH-tis see-ROO-less-sens
Eurylaimidae yoo-rih-lay-IM-uh-dee
Eurypyga helias yoo-RIH-pij-uh HEE-lee-uhs
Eurypygidae yoo-rih-PIJ-uh-dee
Eurystomus orientalis yoo-rih-STOH-muhs or-ih-EN-tal-is
Falco peregrinus FAL-koh PEHR-eh-GRIN-uhs
Falco rusticolis FAL-koh rus-TIH-kol-is
Falconidae fal-KON-uh-dee
Falconiformes fal-kon-uh-FORM-eez
Ficedula basilanica fih-SEH-duh-luh bas-ill-AN-ik-uh
Formicariidae for-mih-kar-EYE-uh-dee
Fratercula arctica frah-TER-kuh-luh ARK-tik-uh
Fregata magnificens FREH-gah-tuh mag-NIH-fih-sens
Fregatidae freh-GAH-tuh-dee
Fringilla coelebs frin-JILL-uh SEE-lebz
Fringillidae frin-JILL-uh-dee
Fulmarus glacialis FULL-mar-uhs glay-SHE-al-is
Furnariidae fur-nar-EYE-uh-dee
Furnarius rufus fur-NAR-ee-uhs ROO-fuhs
Galbula pastazae GAL-bull-uh PAS-tah-zee
Galbula ruficauda GAL-bull-uh roo-fee-KAW-duh
Galbulidae gal-BULL-uh-dee
Gallicolumba luzonica gal-ih-KUH-lum-buh loo-ZON-ik-uh
Galliformes gal-uh-FORM-eez
Gallinago nigripennis gal-uh-NAY-go NY-gruh-PEN-is
Gavia immer GAV-ee-uh IM-mer
Gavia stellata GAV-ee-uh STEL-lah-tuh
Gaviidae gav-EYE-uh-dee
Gaviiformes gav-eye-uh-FORM-eez
Geococcyx californiana GEE-oh-COCK-siks kal-uh-FORN-
uh-kuh
Glareola pratincola glar-ee-OH-luh prat-in-KOH-luh
Glareolidae glar-ee-OH-luh-dee
Glaucis hirsuta GLO-kis her-SOO-tuh
Grallina cyanoleuca GRAL-line-uh SIGH-an-uh-LYOO-kuh

xviii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Grallinidae gral-LINE-uh-dee
Gruidae GROO-uh-dee
Gruiformes groo-uh-FORM-eez
Grus canadensis GROOS kan-uh-DEN-sis
Grus japonensis GROOS jap-ON-en-sis
Gymnogyps californianus JIM-nuh-jips kal-uh-FORN-uh-kuhs
Haematopodidae hee-muh-toh-POD-uh-dee
Haematopus unicolor hee-muh-TOH-puhs YOO-nih-KUH-luhr
Harpactes oreskios hahr-PAK-teez or-es-KEE-uhs
Heliornis fulica hee-LEE-or-nis FUL-ik-uh
Heliornithidae hee-lee-or-NITH-uh-dee
Hemiprocne coronata HEMI-prok-nee koh-roh-NAH-tuh
Hemiprocnidae hemi-PROK-nuh-dee
Himantopus himantopus hih-MAN-tuh-puhs hih-MAN-tuh-
puhs
Himatione sanguinea hih-MAY-shun-ee san-GWIN-ee-uh
Hirundinidae hir-un-DIN-uh-dee
Hirundo pyrrhonota HIR-un-doh pir-uh-NOH-tuh
Hirundo rustica HIR-un-doh RUS-tik-uh
Hydrobatidae hi-droh-BAT-uh-dee
Hydrophasianus chirurgus hi-droh-fay-SEE-an-uhs KY-ruhr-
guhs
Hypocolius ampelinus hi-poh-KOL-ee-uhs am-peh-LINE-uhs
Hypothymis azurea hi-poh-THY-mis az-YOOR-ee-uh
Hypsipetes madagascariensis hip-sih-PEET-eez mad-uh-GAS-
kar-EE-en-sis
Icteria virens ik-TER-ee-uh VY-renz
Icteridae ik-TER-uh-dee
Icterus galbula IK-ter-uhs GAL-bull-uh
Indicator archipelagicus in-dih-KAY-ter AR-kih-peh-LAJ-ik-
uhs
Indicatoridae in-dih-kay-TER-uh-dee
Irena puella eye-REEN-uh poo-ELL-uh
Irenidae eye-REEN-uh-dee
Jacanidae juh-KAN-uh-dee
Jynx torquilla JINKS tor-KWILL-uh
Lagopus lagopus LAG-uh-puhs LAG-uh-puhs
Laniidae lan-EYE-uh-dee
Lanius ludovicianus lan-ee-uhs LOO-doh-vih-SHE-an-uhs
Laridae LAR-uh-dee

Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names xix

 Larus saundersi LAR-uhs SON-ders-eye
Laterallus jamaicensis lat-er-ALL-uhs ja-MAY-sen-sis
Leipoa ocellata LYE-poh-uh os-ELL-ah-tuh
Liosceles thoracicus lye-OS-sel-eez tho-RAS-ik-uhs
Lonchura punctulata LON-chur-uh punk-TOO-lah-tuh
Loxia curvirostra LOK-see-uh KUR-vih-ROS-truh
Macrocephalon maleo ma-crow-SEFF-uh-lon MAL-ee-oh
Macronyx ameliae MA-cron-iks am-EEL-ee-ee
Maluridae mal-YOOR-uh-dee
Malurus splendens MAL-yoor-uhs SPLEN-denz
Megaceryle alcyon MEG-uh-ser-EYE-lee al-SIGH-on
Megapodiidae meg-uh-pod-EYE-uh-dee
Megalaima haemacephala meg-uh-LAY-muh hee-muh-SEFF-
ah-luh
Melanocharis versteri mel-uh-NOH-kar-is VER-ster-eye
Meleagris gallopavo mel-ee-AY-gris gal-uh-PAY-voh
Melichneutes robustus mel-ik-NOO-teez ro-BUHS-tuhs
Meliphagidae mel-ih-FAJ-uh-dee
Melospiza melodia mel-uh-SPY-zuh meh-LOH-dee-uh
Menura alberti MEN-yoor-uh AL-bert-eye
Menuridae men-YOOR-uh-dee
Meropidae mer-OP-uh-dee
Meropogon forsteni mer-uh-POH-gon FOR-sten-eye
Merops apiaster MER-ops ay-PEE-as-ter
Mesitornis variegata meh-SIT-or-nis VAIR-ree-uh-GAH-tuh
Mesitornithidae meh-sit-or-NITH-uh-dee
Microeca fascinans my-CROW-ek-uh FAS-sin-ans
Mimidae MIH-muh-dee
Mirafra javanica MIR-af-ruh jah-VAH-nik-uh
Mniotilta varia ny-OH-til-tuh VAIR-ee-uh
Moho bishopi MOH-hoh BISH-up-eye
Mohua ochrocephala MOH-hyoo-uh OH-kruh-SEFF-ah-luh
Momotidae moh-MOH-tuh-dee
Momotus momota MOH-moh-tuhs MOH-moh-tuh
Monarchidae mon-ARK-uh-dee
Montifringilla nivalis mon-tih-frin-JILL-uh NYE-val-is
Morus bassanus MOR-uhs BASS-an-uhs
Motacilla cinerea moh-tuh-SILL-uh sin-EAR-ee-uh
Motacillidae moh-tuh-SILL-uh-dee
Muscicapidae mus-kih-KAP-uh-dee

xx Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Muscicaps striata MUS-kih-kaps stry-AH-tuh
Musophagidae mus-oh-FAJ-uh-dee
Musophagiformes mus-oh-faj-uh-FORM-eez
Mycteria americana mik-TER-ee-uh uh-mer-uh-KAN-uh
Nectariniidae nek-tar-in-EYE-uh-dee
Neodrepanis coruscans nee-oh-DREH-pan-is KOR-us-kans
Neophron percnopterus NEE-oh-fron perk-NOP-ter-uhs
Nesomimus macdonaldi NEZ-oh-MIH-muhs mak-DON-uld-
eye
Nonnula ruficapilla NON-nuh-luh roo-fih-kap-ILL-uh
Notharchus macrorhynchos NOTH-ark-uhs ma-crow-RIN-
kuhs
Nothocercus bonapartei NOTH-uh-SER-kuhs BOH-nuh-
PART-eye
Nucifraga caryocatactes NYOO-sih-FRAG-uh KAR-ee-oh-
KAT-ak-teez
Numenius americanus nyoo-MEN-ee-uhs uh-mer-uh-KAN-
uhs
Numida meleagris NYOO-mid-uh mel-ee-AY-gris
Numididae nyoo-MID-uh-dee
Nyctea scandiaca NIK-tee-uh skan-DEE-uh-kuh
Nyctibiidae nik-tih-BYE-uh-dee
Nyctibius griseus nik-TIB-ee-uhs GRIS-ee-uhs
Oceanites oceanicus OH-shih-NYE-teez OH-shih-AN-uh-kuhs
Odontophoridae OH-don-tuh-FOR-uh-dee
Opisthocomidae op-is-thuh-KOM-eh-dee
Opisthocomiformes op-is-thuh-kom-eh-FORM-eez
Opisthocomus hoazin op-is-thuh-KOM-uhs HOH-ah-sin
Oriolidae or-ih-OH-lu-dee
Oriolus oriolus or-ih-OH-luhs or-ih-OH-luhs
Ortalis vetula OR-tal-is VET-uh-luh
Orthonychidae or-thuh-NIK-uh-dee
Orthonyx temminckii OR-thon-iks TEM-ink-ee-eye
Otididae oh-TID-uh-dee
Otis tarda OH-tis TAR-duh
Otus asio OH-tuhs AS-ee-oh
Oxyruncidae ok-sih-RUN-kuh-dee
Oxyruncus cristatus OK-sih-RUN-kuhs KRIS-tah-tuhs
Pachycephala pectoralis pak-ih-SEFF-ah-luh pek-TOR-al-is
Pachycephalidae pak-ih-seff-AL-uh-dee

Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names xxi

 Pachyramphus aglaiae PAK-ih-RAM-fuhs ag-LAY-ee-ee
Pandion haliaetus PAN-die-on HAL-ee-ee-tuhs
Parabuteo unicinctus par-uh-BYOO-tee-oh YOO-nih-SINK-
tuhs
Paradisaeidae par-uh-die-SEE-uh-dee
Pardalotidae par-duh-LOT-uh-dee
Pardalotus striatus par-duh-LOT-uhs stry-AH-tuhs
Paridae PAR-uh-dee
Parulidae par-YOOL-uh-dee
Parus major PAR-uhs MAY-jur
Passer domesticus PASS-er doh-MES-tuh-kuhs
Passerculus sandwichensis pass-ER-kyoo-luhs SAND-wich-
en-sis
Passeridae pass-ER-uh-dee
Passeriformes pass-er-uh-FORM-eez
Pelecanidae pel-uh-KAN-uh-dee
Pelecaniformes pel-uh-kan-uh-FORM-eez
Pelecanoides urinatrix pel-uh-KAN-oi-deez yoor-in-AY-triks
Pelecanoididae pel-uh-kan-OI-duh-dee
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos pel-uh-KAN-uhs eh-RITH-roh-
RIN-kuhs
Pelecanus occidentalis pel-uh-KAN-uhs ok-sih-DEN-tal-is
Pericrocotus igneus per-ih-CROW-kot-uhs IG-nee-uhs
Petroicidae pet-ROY-kuh-dee
Phacellodomus ruber fay-sell-uh-DOH-muhs ROO-ber
Phaethon lepturus FEE-thon LEPT-yoor-uhs
Phaethontidae fee-THON-tuh-dee
Phalacrocoracidae fal-uh-crow-kor-AY-suh-dee
Phalacrocorax carbo fal-uh-crow-cor-aks KAR-boh
Pharomachrus mocinno far-uh-MAK-ruhs MOH-sin-noh
Phasianidae fay-see-AN-uh-dee
Philepittidae fil-uh-PIT-tuh-dee
Phoenicopteridae FEE-nih-kop-TER-uh-dee
Phoenicopteriformes FEE-nih-KOP-ter-uh-FORM-eez
Phoenicopterus ruber FEE-nih-KOP-ter-uhs ROO-ber
Phoeniculidae FEE-nih-KYOO-luh-dee
Phoeniculus purpureus fee-NIH-kyoo-luhs purh-PURH-ee-uhs
Phyllastrephus scandens FIL-uh-STRE-fuhs SKAN-denz
Phylloscopus borealis FIL-uh-SKOH-puhs BOHR-ee-al-is
Phytotoma raimondii fye-toh-TOH-muh RAY-mund-ee-eye

xxii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Phytotomidae fye-toh-TOH-muh-dee
Picathartes oreas PIK-uh-THAR-teez OR-ee-uhs
Picoides borealis PIK-oy-deez BOHR-ee-al-is
Picidae PIS-uh-dee
Piciformes pis-uh-FORM-eez
Pinguinus impennis PIN-gwin-uhs IM-pen-is
Pipra filicauda PIP-ruh fil-eh-KAW-duh
Pipridae PIP-ruh-dee
Pitangus sulphuratus PIT-an-guhs sul-FUR-ah-tuhs
Pitohui kirhocephalus PIT-oo-eey kir-uh-SEFF-ah-luhs
Pitta angolensis PIT-tuh an-GOH-len-sis
Pitta sordida PIT-tuh SOR-dih-duh
Pittidae PIT-tuh-dee
Pityriasis gymnocephala pit-ih-RYE-uh-sis jim-nuh-SEFF-
ah-luh
Plectoryncha lanceolata PLEK-tuh-RIN-kuh LAN-see-oh-
LAH-tuh
Plectrophenax nivalis PLEK-troh-FEN-aks NYE-val-is
Ploceidae ploh-SEE-uh-dee
Ploceus cucullatus PLOH-see-uhs kyoo-KYOO-lah-tuhs
Ploceus philippinus PLOH-see-uhs fil-ih-PINE-uhs
Podargidae pod-AR-juh-dee
Podargus strigoides POD-ar-guhs STRI-goy-deez
Podiceps cristatus POD-ih-seps KRIS-tah-tuhs
Podicipedidae pod-ih-sih-PED-uh-dee
Podicipediformes pod-ih-sih-ped-uh-FORM-eez
Poecile atricapilla PEE-suh-lee ay-trih-kap-ILL-uh
Pogoniulus chrysoconus po-go-NYE-uh-luhs KRIS-oh-KON-
uhs
Polioptila caerulea poh-lih-OP-til-uh see-ROO-lee-uh
Polyborus plancus pol-ih-BOHR-uhs PLAN-kuhs
Pomatostomidae poh-may-tuh-STOH-muh-dee
Pomatostomus temporalis poh-may-tuh-STOH-muhs tem-
PER-al-is
Prionops plumatus PRY-on-ops PLOO-mah-tuhs
Procellariidae pro-sell-ar-EYE-uh-dee
Procellariiformes pro-sell-ar-eye-uh-FORM-eez
Promerops cafer PRO-mer-ops KAF-er
Prunella modularis proo-NELL-uh mod-YOO-lar-is
Prunellidae proo-NELL-uh-dee

Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names xxiii

 Psaltriparus minimus sol-TRI-par-uhs MIN-ih-muhs
Psittacidae sit-UH-suh-dee
Psittaciformes sit-uh-suh-FORM-eez
Psittacula krameri sit-UH-kuh-luh KRAY-mer-eye
Psittacus erithacus SIT-uh-kuhs eh-RITH-uh-kuhs
Psittirostra cantans SIT-uh-ROS-truh KAN-tanz
Psophia crepitans SOH-fee-uh KREP-ih-tanz
Psophiidae soh-FYE-uh-dee
Pterocles namaqua TER-oh-kleez nah-MAH-kwuh
Pteroclididae ter-oh-KLID-uh-dee
Pterocliformes ter-oh-cluh-FORM-eez
Pterocnemia pennata ter-ok-NEE-mee-uh PEN-ah-tuh
Ptilonorhynchidae TIL-on-oh-RIN-kuh-dee
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus TIL-on-oh-RIN-kuhs vee-o-LAY-
see-uhs
Ptiloris victoriae TIL-or-is vik-TOR-ee-ee
Ptyonoprogne rupestris TY-on-oh-PROG-nee ROO-pes-tris
Puffinus puffinus PUFF-in-uhs PUFF-in-uhs
Pycnonotidae pik-noh-NOH-tuh-dee
Pycnonotus barbatus pik-noh-NOH-tuhs BAR-bat-uhs
Rallidae RALL-uh-dee
Ramphastidae ram-FAS-tuh-dee
Ramphastos toco RAM-fas-tuhs TOH-coh
Raphidae RAF-uh-dee
Raphus cucullatus RAF-uhs kyoo-KYOO-lah-tuhs
Recurvirostra americana re-CURV-ih-ROS-truh uh-mer-uh-
KAN-uh
Recurvirostridae re-CURV-ih-ROS-truh-dee
Remizidae rem-IZ-uh-dee
Rhabdornis mysticalis RAB-dor-nis mis-TIH-kal-is
Rhabdornithidae rab-dor-NITH-uh-dee
Rheidae REE-uh-dee
Rhinocryptidae RYE-noh-KRIP-tuh-dee
Rhinoplax vigil RYE-noh-plaks VIH-jil
Rhipidura albicollis rip-ih-DYOOR-uh ahl-bih-KOLL-is
Rhipidura leucophrys rip-ih-DYOOR-uh LYOO-kuh-frees
Rhipiduridae rip-ih-DYOOR-uh-dee
Rhynochetidae rye-noh-KEE-tuh-dee
Rhynochetos jubatus rye-noh-KEE-tuhs JOO-bat-uhs
Rostratula benghalensis ros-TRAT-uh-luh ben-GOL-en-sis

xxiv Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Rostratulidae ros-trat-UH-luh-dee
Rupicola rupicola roo-pih-KOH-luh roo-pih-KOH-luh
Sagittariidae saj-ih-tar-EYE-uh-dee
Sagittarius serpentarius saj-ih-TAR-ee-uhs ser-pen-TAR-ee-
uhs
Sarcoramphus papa sar-KOH-ram-fuhs PAH-pah
Sarothrura elegans sar-oh-THROO-ruh EL-eh-ganz
Saxicola torquata sax-ih-KOH-luh TOR-kwah-tuh
Sayornis phoebe SAY-ro-nis FEE-bee
Schetba rufa SKET-buh ROO-fuh
Scolopacidae skoh-loh-PAY-suh-dee
Scopidae SKOH-puh-dee
Scopus umbretta SKOH-puhs UM-bret-tuh
Semnornis ramphastinus SEM-nor-nis ram-FAS-tin-uhs
Sialia sialis sigh-AL-ee-uh SIGH-al-is
Sitta canadensis SIT-tuh kan-uh-DEN-sis
Sitta europaea SIT-tuh yoor-uh-PEE-uh
Sittidae SIT-tuh-dee
Smithornis capensis SMITH-or-nis KAP-en-sis
Somateria spectabilis soh-muh-TER-ee-uh spek-TAB-ih-lis
Sphecotheres vieilloti sfek-UH-ther-eez VYE-ill-oh-eye
Spheniscidae sfen-IS-kuh-dee
Sphenisciformes sfen-is-kuh-FORM-eez
Spheniscus magellanicus SFEN-is-kuhs maj-eh-LAN-ik-uhs
Sphyrapicus varius sfir-AP-ik-uhs VAIR-ee-uhs
Steatornis caripensis stee-AT-or-nis kar-IH-pen-sis
Steatornithidae stee-at-or-NITH-uh-dee
Stercorarius parasiticus ster-koh-RARE-ee-uhs par-uh-SIT-
ik-uhs
Stiltia isabella STILT-ee-uh IZ-uh-BELL-uh
Strigidae STRIJ-uh-dee
Strigiformes strij-uh-FORM-eez
Struthio camelus STROO-thee-oh KAM-el-uhs
Struthionidae stroo-thee-ON-uh-dee
Struthioniformes stroo-thee-on-uh-FORM-eez
Sturnidae STURN-uh-dee
Sturnus vulgaris STURN-uhs VUL-gar-is
Sula nebouxii SUL-uh NEB-oo-ee-eye
Sulidae SUL-uh-dee
Sylviidae sil-VYE-uh-dee

Pronunciation Guide for Scientific Names xxv

 Syrrhaptes paradoxus SIR-rap-teez PAR-uh-DOKS-uhs
Taeniopygia guttata tee-nee-uh-PIJ-ee-uh GUT-tah-tuh
Terpsiphone viridis terp-SIF-oh-nee VIR-id-is
Thamnophilus doliatus THAM-nuh-FIL-uhs dol-EE-ah-tuhs
Thinocoridae thin-uh-KOR-uh-dee
Threskiornis aethiopicus THRES-kih-OR-nis EE-thi-OH-pi-
kuhs
Threskiornithidae thres-kih-or-NITH-uh-dee
Timaliidae tim-al-EYE-uh-dee
Tinamidae tin-AM-uh-dee
Todidae TOH-duh-dee
Todus multicolor TOH-duhs MULL-tee-KUH-luhr
Tragopan satyra TRAG-uh-pan SAT-eye-ruh
Trichoglossus haematodus TRIK-uh-GLOS-uhs HEE-muh-
TOH-duhs
Trochilidae trok-ILL-uh-dee
Troglodytes aedon trog-luh-DIE-teez EE-don
Troglodytes troglodytes trog-luh-DIE-teez trog-luh-DIE-teez
Troglodytidae trog-luh-DIE-tuh-dee
Trogonidae troh-GON-uh-dee
Trogoniformes troh-gon-uh-FORM-eez
Turdidae TUR-duh-dee
Turdus migratorius TUR-duhs my-gruh-TOR-ee-uhs
Turnicidae tur-NIS-uh-dee
Turnix sylvatica TUR-niks sil-VAT-ik-uh
Turnix varia TUR-niks VAIR-ee-uh
Tyrannidae tie-RAN-uh-dee
Tyto alba TIE-toh AHL-buh
Tytonidae tie-TON-uh-dee
Upupa epops UP-up-uh EE-pops
Upupidae up-UP-uh-dee
Uria aalge YOOR-ee-uh AHL-jee
Vanellus vanellus vah-NELL-uhs vah-NELL-uhs
Vangidae VAN-juh-dee
Vireo atricapillus VIR-e-oh ay-trih-kap-ILL-uhs
Vireonidae vir-e-ON-uh-dee
Volatinia jacarina vol-uh-TIN-ee-uh jak-uh-REE-nuh
Zenaida macroura ZEN-ay-duh ma-crow-YOOR-uh
Zosteropidae zos-ter-OP-uh-dee
Zosterops japonicus ZOS-ter-ops jap-ON-ik-uhs

xxvi Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Words to Know
A
Acacia: A thorny tree, or any of several trees, shrubs, or other
plants of the legume family that tend to be ornamental.
Adaptation: Any structural, physiological, or behavioral trait
that aids an organism’s survival and ability to reproduce in
its existing environment.
Adaptive evolution: Changes in organisms over time that al-
low them to cope more efficiently with their biomes.
Adaptive shift: An evolutionary process by which the descen-
dants of an organism adapt, over time, to ecological niches,
or natural lifestyles, that are new to that organism and usu-
ally filled in other places by much different organisms.
Aftershaft: The secondary feather that branches from the base
of the main feather.
Algae: Tiny plants or plantlike organisms that grow in water
and in damp places.
Alpine: Used to refer to the mountainous region of the Alps,
or to describe other areas related to mountains.
Altitude: The height of something in relation to the earth’s sur-
face or sea level.
Altricial: Chicks that hatch at an early developmental stage,
often blind and without feathers.
Anisodactyl: Toe arrangement with three toes pointing for-
ward and one toe facing backward.
Anting: A behavior birds use to interact with ants, either by
rolling in an ant hill or placing ants into their feathers.
Aphrodisiac: Anything that intensifies or arouses sexual desires.

Words to Know xxvii

 Aquatic: Related to water.
Arachnid: Eight-legged animals, including spiders, scorpions,
and mites.
Arboreal: Living primarily or entirely in trees and bushes.
Arthropod: A member of the largest single animal phylum,
consisting of organisms with segmented bodies, jointed legs
or wings, and exoskeletons.
Asynchronous hatching: A situation in which the eggs in a
nest hatch at different times, so that some chicks (the older
ones) are larger and stronger than others.
Australasia: Region consisting of Australia, New Zealand, New
Guinea, and the neighboring islands of the South Pacific.
Avian: Relating to birds.
Aviary: Large enclosure or cage for birds.

B
Barb: Stiff filament that forms the framework of a feather.
Bib: Area under the bill of a bird, just above the breast.
Biodiversity: Abundance of species in a particular biome or ge-
ographical area.
Biparental: Both male and female of the species incubate, feed,
and fledge their young.
Bower: Shady, leafy shelter or recess.
Brackish: Water that is a mix of freshwater and saltwater.
Bromeliads: A family of tropical plants. Many bromeliads grow
high on the branches and trunks of trees rather than in the
soil.
Brood: Young birds that are born and raised together.
Brood parasite: An animal species, most often a bird, in which
the female lays its own eggs in the nests of other bird species.
The host mother raises the chick as if it were her own. This
behavior has also been observed in fish.
Brushland: Habitat characterized by a cover of bushes or shrubs.
Burrow: Tunnel or hole that an animal digs in the ground to
use as a home.

C
Cache: A hidden supply area.
Camouflage: Device used by an animal, such as coloration, al-
lowing it to blend in with the surroundings to avoid being
seen by prey and predators.

xxviii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Canopy: The uppermost layer of a forest formed naturally by
the leaves and branches of trees and plants.
Cap: Patch on top of bird’s head.
Carcass: The dead body of an animal. Vultures gather around
a carcass to eat it.
Carnivore: Meat-eating organism.
Carrion: Dead and decaying animal flesh.
Caruncle: A genetically controlled outgrowth of skin on an an-
imal, usually for dominance or mating displays.
Casque: A horny growth on the head of a bird resembling a
helmet.
Cavity: Hollow area within a body.
Churring: Referring to a low, trilled, or whirring sound that
some birds make.
Circumpolar: Able to live at the North and South Pole.
Clutch: Group of eggs hatched together.
Collagen: A type of protein formed within an animal body that
is assembled into various structures, most notably tendons.
Colony: A group of animals of the same type living together.
Comb: Fleshy red crest on top of the head.
Coniferous: Refers to evergreen trees, such as pines and firs,
that bear cones and have needle-like leaves that are not shed
all at once.
Coniferous forest: An evergreen forest where plants stay green
all year.
Continental margin: A gently sloping ledge of a continent that
is submerged in the ocean.
Convergence: In adaptive evolution, a process by which unre-
lated or only distantly related living things come to resem-
ble one another in adapting to similar environments.
Cooperative breeding: A social organization of breeding where
several birds (not just the parents) feed a group of hatch-
lings.
Courtship: Behaviors related to attracting a mate and prepar-
ing to breed.
Courtship display: Actions of a male and female animal that
demonstrate their interest in becoming or remaining a pair
for breeding.
Covert: Term derived from the word for something that is con-
cealed, and used to describe the small feathers that cover the
bases of the larger feathers on a bird’s wing and tail.

Words to Know xxix

 Crèche: A group of young of the same species, which gather
together in order to better avoid predators.
Crepuscular: Most active at dawn and dusk.
Crest: A group of feathers on the top or back of a bird’s head.
Critically Endangered: A term used by the IUCN in reference
to a species that is at an extremely high risk of extinction in
the wild.
Crop: A pouch-like organ in the throat where crop milk is pro-
duced.
Crop milk: A cheesy, nutritious substance produced by adult
pigeons and doves and fed to chicks.
Crown: Top of a bird’s head.
Cryptic: To be colored so as to blend into the environment.

D
Deciduous: Shedding leaves at the end of the growing season.
Deciduous forest: A forest with four seasons in which trees
drop their leaves in the fall.
Decurved: Down-curved; slightly bent.
Defensive posture: A position adopted to frighten away po-
tential predators.
Deforestation: Those practices or processes that result in the
change of forested lands to non-forest uses, such as human
settlement or farming. This is often cited as one of the ma-
jor causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Distal: Away from the point of attachment.
Distraction display: Behaviors intended to distract potential
predators from the nest site.
Diurnal: Refers to animals that are active during the day.
Domesticated: Tamed.
Dominant: The top male or female of a social group, some-
times called the alpha male or alpha female.
Dormant: Not active.
Dorsal: Located in the back.
Dung: Feces, or solid waste from an animal.

E
Ecological niche: The role a living creature, plant or animal,
plays in its community.

xxx Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Ecotourist: A person who visits a place in order to observe the
plants and animals in the area while making minimal human
impact on the natural environment.
Elevation: The height of land when measured from sea level.
Endangered: A term used by the U.S. Endangered Species Act
of 1973 and by the IUCN in reference to a species that is
facing a very high risk of extinction from all or a significant
portion of its natural home.
Endemic: Native to or occuring only in a particular place.
Epiphyte: Plant such as mosses that grows on another plant
but does not depend on that host plant for nutrition.
Estuary: Lower end of a river where ocean tides meet the river’s
current.
Eucalyptus: Tall, aromatic trees.
Evolve: To change slowly over time.
Extinct: A species without living members.
Extinction: The total disappearance of a species or the disap-
pearance of a species from a given area.
Eyespot: Colored feathers on the body that resemble the eyes
of a large animal, which function in helping to frighten away
potential predators.

F
Family: A grouping of genera that share certain characteristics
and appear to have evolved from the same ancestors.
Feather tract: Spacing of feathers in a pattern.
Feces: Solid body waste.
Fermentation: Chemical reaction in which enzymes break
down complex organic compounds into simpler ones. This
can make digestion easier.
Fledgling: Bird that has recently grown the feathers necessary
to fly.
Flightless: Species that have lost the ability to fly.
Flock: A large group of birds of the same species.
Forage: To search for food.
Frugivore: Animal that primarily eats fruit. Many bats and
birds are frugivores.

G
Gape: The width of the open mouth.
Genera: Plural of genus.

Words to Know xxxi

 Generalist feeder: A species that eats a wide variety of foods.
Genus (pl. genera): A category of classification made up of
species sharing similar characteristics.
Granivore: Animal that primarily eats seeds and grains.
Grassland: Region in which the climate is dry for long peri-
ods of the summer, and freezes in the winter. Grasslands are
characterized by grasses and other erect herbs, usually with-
out trees or shrubs, and occur in the dry temperate interiors
of continents.
Gregarious: Used to describe birds that tend to live in flocks,
and are very sociable with other birds. The word has come
to be used to describe people who are very outgoing and so-
ciable, as well.

H
Habitat: The area or region where a particular type of plant or
animal lives and grows.
Hallux: The big toe, or first digit, on the part of the foot fac-
ing inwards.
Hatchling: Birds that have just hatched, or broken out of the egg.
Hawking: Hunting for food by sitting on a perch, flying out
and capturing the food, and returning to the perch to eat.
Heath: Grassy and shrubby uncultivated land.
Herbivore: Plant eating organism.
Heterodactyl: With toes pointed in opposite directions; usu-
ally with first and second inner front toes turned backward
and the third and fourth toes turned forward.
Homeotherm: Organism with stable independent body tem-
perature.
Host: A living plant or animal from which a parasite takes nu-
trition

I
Igapó: Black waters of the Amazon river area.
Incubation: Process of sitting on and warming eggs in order
for them to hatch.
Indicator species: A bird or animal whose presence reveals a
specific environmental characteristic
Indigenous: Originating in a region or country.
Insectivore: An animal that eats primarily insects.

xxxii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Introduced: Not native to the area; brought in by humans.
Invertebrate: Animal lacking a spinal column (backbone).
Iridescent: Having a lustrous or brilliant appearance or quality.
IUCN: Abbreviation for the International Union for Conser-
vation of Nature and Natural Resources, now the World Con-
servation Union. A conservation organization of government
agencies and nongovernmental organizations best known for
its Red Lists of threatened an

K
Keel: A projection from a bone.
Keratin: Protein found in hair, nails, and skin.
Kleptoparasite: An individual that steals food or other re-
sources from another individual.

L
Lamellae: Plural of lamella; comb-like bristles inside a flamin-
gos bill.
Larva (pl. larvae): Immature form (wormlike in insects; fish-
like in amphibians) of an organism capable of surviving on
its own. A larva does not resemble the parent and must go
through metamorphosis, or change, to reach its adult stage.
Lek: An area where birds come to display courtship behaviors
to attract a mate (noun); to sing, flutter, hop and perform
other courtship behaviors at a lek (verb).
Lerp: Sugary lumps of secretions of psillid insects, small plant-
sucking insects living on Eucalyptus trees.
Lichen: A complex of algae and fungi found growing on trees,
rocks, or other solid surfaces.
Litter: A layer of dead vegetation and other material covering
the ground.

M
Mandible: Upper or lower part of a bird’s bill; jaw.
Mangrove: Tropical coastal trees or shrubs that produce many
supporting roots and that provide dense vegetation.
Mantle: Back, inner-wing, and shoulder area.
Mesic: Referring to any area that is known to be wet or moist.
Midstory: The level of tropical forests between ground level
(understory) and treetops (overstory).

Words to Know xxxiii

 Migrate: To move from one area or climate to another as the
seasons change, usually to find food or to mate..
Mixed-species flock: A flock of birds that includes multiple
species.
Mobbing: A group of birds gathering together to defend them-
selves from another large bird by calling loudly and flying at
the intruder.
Molt: The process by which an organism sheds its outermost
layer of feathers, fur, skin, or exoskeleton.
Monogamous: Refers to a breeding system in which a male and
a female mate only with each other during a breeding sea-
son or lifetime.
Montane forest: Forest found in mountainous areas.
Mutualism: A relationship between two species where both
gain something and neither is harmed.

N
Nape: Back part of the neck.
Near Threatened: A category defined by the IUCN suggesting
that a species could become threatened with extinction in
the future.
Nectar: Sweet liquid secreted by the flowers of various plants
to attract pollinators (animals that pollinate, or fertilize, the
flowers).
Neotropical: Relating to a geographic area of plant and animal
life east, south, and west of Mexico’s central plateau that in-
cludes Central and South America and the West Indies.
Nest box: A small, human-made shelter intended as a nest site
for birds. Usually a rectangular wooden box with a round
entrance hole.
Nestling: Young bird unable to leave the nest.
New World: Made up of North America, Central America, and
South America; the western half of the world.
Niche: A habitat with everything an animal needs.
Nictating membranes: Clear coverings under the eyelids that
can be moved over the eye.
Nocturnal: Occuring or active at night.

O
Omnivore: A plant- and meat- eating animal.
Opportunistic feeder: One that is able to take advantage of
whatever food resources become available.

xxxiv Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Overstory: The level of tropical forests nearest treetops.

P
Palearctic: The area or subregion of Europe, Africa, and the
Middle East, that is north of the Tropic of Cancer, and the
area north of the Himalayas mountain range.
Pampas: Open grasslands of South America.
Parasite: An organism that lives in or on a host organism and
that gets its nourishment from that host.
Pelagic: To live on the open ocean.
Permafrost: Permanently frozen lands.
Plain: Large expanse of land that is fairly dry and with few
trees.
Plumage: Feathers of a bird.
Pneumatic: Air-filled cavities in the bones of birds.
Poisonous: Containing or producing toxic materials.
Pollen: Dust-like grains or particles produced by a plant that
contain male sex cells.
Pollinate: To transfer pollen from the male organ to the female
organ of a flower.
Polyandry: A mating system in which a single female mates
with multiple males.
Polygamy: A mating system in which males and females mate
with multiple partners.
Polygynous lek: A mating system in which several males dis-
play together for the attention of females. A female, after
watching the displaying males, may mate with one or more
males in the lek.
Polygyny: A mating system in which a single male mates with
multiple females.
Precocial: Young that hatch at an advanced stage of develop-
ment, with feathers and able to move.
Predator: An animal that eats other animals.
Preen: To clean and smooth feathers using the bill.
Preen gland: A gland on the rear of most birds which secretes
an oil the birds use in grooming.
Prey: Organism hunted and eaten by a predator.
Primary forest: A forest characterized by a full-ceiling canopy
formed by the branches of tall trees and several layers of
smaller trees. This type of forest lacks ground vegetation be-
cause sunlight cannot penetrate through the canopy.

Words to Know xxxv

 Promiscuity: Mating in which individuals mate with as many
other individuals as they can or want to.
Pupae: Plural of pupa; developing insects inside cocoon.

Q
Quill: Hollow feather shaft.

R
Rainforest: An evergreen woodland of the tropics distin-
guished by a continuous leaf canopy and an average rainfall
of about 100 inches (250 centimeters) per year.
Raptor: A bird of prey.
Regurgitate: Eject the contents of the stomach through the
mouth; to vomit.
Resident: Bird species that do not migrate.
Retrices: Plural of retrix; paired flight feathers of the tail, which
extend from the margins of a bird’s tail.
Rictal bristles: Modified feathers composed mainly of the ver-
tical shaft.
Riparian: Having to do with the edges of streams or rivers.
Riverine: Located near a river.
Roe: Fish eggs.
Roost: A place where animals, such as bats, sit or rest on a
perch, branch, etc.

S
Savanna: A biome characterized by an extensive cover of
grasses with scattered trees, usually transitioning between ar-
eas dominated by forests and those dominated by grasses and
having alternating seasonal climates of precipitation and
drought.
Scavenger: An animal that eats carrion.
Scrub forest: A forest with short trees and shrubs.
Secondary forest: A forest characterized by a less-developed
canopy, smaller trees, and a dense ground vegetation found
on the edges of fores
Sedentary: Living in a fixed location, as with most plants, tu-
nicates, sponges, etc. Contrast with motile.
Semi-precocial: To be born in a state between altricial and pre-
cocial. Semi-precocial chicks can usually leave the nest after
a few days.

xxxvi Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Sequential polyandry: A mating system in which a female
mates with one male, leaves him a clutch of eggs to tend,
and then mates with another male, repeating the process
throughout the breeding season.
Serial monogamy: Mating for a single nesting then finding an-
other mate or mates for other nestings.
Serrated: Having notches like a saw blade.
Sexual dichromatism: Difference in coloration between the
sexes of a species.
Sexual dimorphism: Differences in size and in shapes of body
or body parts between sexes of a species.
Sexually mature: Capable of reproducing.
Sheath: Tubular-shaped covering used to protect a body part.
Snag: A dead tree, still standing, with the top broken off.
Social: Species in which individuals are found with other in-
dividuals of the same species.
Solitary: Living alone or avoiding the company of others.
Specialist feeder: A species that eats only one or a few food items.
Species: A group of living things that share certain distinctive
characteristics and can breed together in the wild.
Squab: Young pigeons and doves.
Steppe: Wide expanse of semiarid relatively level plains, found
in cool climates and characterized by shrubs, grasses, and
few trees.
Sternum: The breastbone.
Subalpine forest: Forest found at elevations between 9,190 and
10,500 feet (2,800 and 3,200 meters).
Sub-canopy: Below the treetops.
Subordinate: An individual that has lower rank than other,
dominant, members of the group.
Subspecies: Divisions within a species based on significant dif-
ferences and on genetics. Subspecies within a species look
different from one another but are still genetically close to
be considered separate species. In most cases, subspecies can
interbreed and produc
Subtropical: Referring to large areas near the tropics that are
not quite as warm as tropical areas.
Syndactyly: A condition in which two bones (or digits) fuse
together to become a single bone.
Syrinx (pl. syringes): Vocal organ of birds.

Words to Know xxxvii

 T
Taiga: Subarctic wet evergreen forests.
Tail coverts: The short feathers bordering the quills of the long
tail feathers of a bird. They may be over-tail or under-tail
(i.e., top or bottom).
Tail streamer: A central part of a bird’s tail that is longer than
other parts.
Talon: A sharp hooked claw.
Taxonomy: The science dealing with the identification, nam-
ing, and classification of plants and animals.
Temperate: Areas with moderate temperatures in which the
climate undergoes seasonal change in temperature and mois-
ture. Temperate regions of the earth lie primarily between
30 and 60° latitude in both hemispheres.
Terrestrial: Relating to the land or living primarily on land.
Territorial: A pattern of behavior that causes an animal to stay
in a limited area and/or to keep certain other animals of the
same species (other than its mate, herd, or family group) out
of the
Tetrapod: Any vertebrate having four legs or limbs, including
mammals, birds, reptiles, and others.
Thermal: Rising bubble of warm air.
Thicket: An area represented by a thick, or dense, growth of
shrubs, underbrush, or small trees.
Threat display: A set of characteristic motions used to com-
municate aggression and warning to other individuals of the
same species.
Threatened: Describes a species that is threatened with ex-
tinction.
Torpor: A short period of inactivity characterized by an en-
ergy-saving, deep sleep-like state in which heart rate, respi-
ratory rate and body temperature drop.
Tropical: The area between 23.5° north and south of the equa-
tor. This region has small daily and seasonal changes in tem-
perature, but great seasonal changes in precipitation.
Generally, a hot and humid climate that is completely or al-
most free of frost.
Tundra: A type of ecosystem dominated by lichens, mosses,
grasses, and woody plants. It is found at high latitudes (arc-
tic tundra) and high altitudes (alpine tundra). Arctic tundra
is underlain by permafrost and usually very wet.

xxxviii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

U
Understory: The trees and shrubs between the forest canopy
and the ground cover.

V
Vertebra (pl. vertebrae): A component of the vertebral col-
umn, or backbone, found in vertebrates.
Vertebrate: An animal having a spinal column (backbone).
Vocalization: Sound made by vibration of the vocal tract.
Vulnerable: An IUCN category referring to a species that faces
a high risk of extinction.

W
Wattle: A fold of skin, often brightly colored, that hangs from
the throat area.
Wetlands: Areas that are wet or covered with water for at least
part of the year and support aquatic plants, such as marshes,
swamps, and bogs.
Wingbars: Stripes of coloration on the wing.
Wingspan: The distance from wingtip to wingtip when the
wings are extended in flight.

X
Xeric forest: Forest adapted to very dry conditions.

Z
Zygodactyl: Two pairs of toes, with two toes pointing forward
and two toes facing backward.

Words to Know xxxix

Getting to Know Birds
FEATHERS
It is easy to tell that an animal is a bird. If it has feathers, it
is one of the more than 8,600 kinds of birds in the world. Birds
can also be recognized by their bills, wings, and two legs, but
feathers are what make them different from every other animal.

First feathers
Scientists are not sure when feathers first appeared on ani-
mals. They might have begun as feather-like scales on some of
the dinosaurs. In 1861, fossils of a feathered animal, Ar-
chaeopteryx (ar-key-OP-tuh-rix), were found in Germany.
These are the first animals known to scientists that were cov-
ered with feathers. These crow-sized animals with heads like
lizards lived on the Earth about 150 million years ago.

How birds use different types of feathers

Feathers in most birds’ wings and tail help them fly. Each of
these flight feathers has a stiff shaft that goes from one end to
the other. Flight feathers are light, but they are surprisingly
strong. Birds that can fly can escape enemies and get to food
sources and nesting places they wouldn’t be able to walk to.
Feathers have many other uses in addition to flight. The outer
feathers on a bird’s body give it color and shape and help to
waterproof the bird. Outer feathers with patterns are useful for
camouflaging some birds, and colorful feathers send messages.
For example, male birds show off their bright feathers to im-
press females or wave them as warnings to others. Downy in-
ner feathers trap air to keep the bird warm.

Getting to Know Birds xli

 Scientists have names for different types of
feathers and also for groups of feathers ac-
cording to where they grow on a bird’s body.

Flight
Most birds’ bodies are built for flight. Air
sacs in their chests and hollow bones keep
them light. They have powerful chest muscles
that move their wings. The wing and tail feath-
ers are tough, and birds can turn some of them
for steering. A bird usually shuts its wing
feathers to trap the air as its wings go down.
This lifts the bird into the air and pushes it
forward. Then, as it raises the wings, it fans
the feathers open to let the air through.
How birds fly depends somewhat on the
shape of their wings. Vultures and seabirds
have long, narrow wings that are great for
soaring high on air currents or gliding over
the ocean. Songbirds have short, broad wings
that are made for flapping as the birds fly
Archaeopteryx is the first
animal known to be covered among trees. Falcons have narrow, pointed wings that curve
with feathers. (© François backward. These wings help them fly fast and steer well. But
Gohier/Photo Researchers, Inc. all birds flap their wings at times and glide at other times, de-
Reproduced by permission.)
pending on what they are doing and how the wind is blowing.
Some birds use their wings in unusual ways. Hummingbirds
can flap their wings about fifty times every second. This allows
them to hover at one spot as they lap nectar from flowers. Flip-
per-like wings help penguins to “fly” through the water, and
even ostriches use their wings to keep their balance as they run.
The wing of a bird is rounded on top and flat on the bot-
tom, similar to the wing of an airplane. This shape is what gives
the bird the lift it needs to stay up in the air.
Birds take off and land facing the wind. Small birds (up to
the size of pigeons) can jump up from the ground and fly right
off into the air. Larger birds have to jump off something high
or run along the ground or the water to get going.

BIRDS’ BODIES
Different, but the same
A 400-pound (181-kilogram) ostrich may seem very differ-
ent from a tiny bee hummingbird that weighs less than an ounce

xlii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

(about 2 grams). But all birds have many
things in common besides having feathers. Semiplume
They have bills, two legs, a backbone, they are
warm-blooded (keep an even body tempera-
Contour
ture), and they lay hard-shelled eggs.

Body shapes
Birds have many different shapes. Wading
birds such as flamingos have long necks and
long legs. Eagles have short necks and legs.
But both kinds of birds are able to find their Rectrix
food in the water. Falcons and penguins have
sleek, torpedo-shaped bodies that are perfect Filoplume
for catching speedy prey. Turkeys’ heavier
bodies are just right for their quiet lives in the
forest searching for acorns and insects.

Bill shapes
Bird bills come in a wide variety of shapes.
They use their bills to gather food, build nests,
Remex
fix their feathers, feed their young, attract
mates, and attack their enemies. The type of
food a bird eats depends on its bills’ shape.
For example, the sturdy bills of sparrows are
good for cracking seeds, and hawks’ hooked
beaks are perfect for tearing up prey.

Legs and feet

Bird legs and feet fit their many different Down Bristle
lifestyles. For example, hawks have sharp
talons for hunting and ducks have webbed feet
to help them swim. Some of the birds that
A bird’s stiffest feathers are the remex feathers of the
spend most of their lives in the air or on the wing and the retrix feathers of the tail. The outside of a
water are not good at walking. Most birds have bird’s body is covered with contour feathers that give
four toes, but some have three, and ostriches the body shape and waterproof the bird. Underneath the
contour feathers are the semiplume and down feathers
have only two. that help keep the bird warm. Filoplumes lie alongside
the contour feathers and help the bird tell if its feathers
are in place. Some birds have bristles around their
BIRDS’ SENSES beaks that allow them to feel insects in the air.
(Illustration by Marguette Dongvillo. Reproduced by
Sight permission.)
For most birds, sight is their best sense.
They can see much better than humans, and
they can see in color, unlike many mammals.

Getting to Know Birds xliii

 Supercilium Crown
Forehead Nape
Mantle
Lore Coverts
Tertials Uppertail coverts Rectrices

Ear coverts
Malar stripe Undertail coverts
Throat
Vent
Breast Primaries
Secondaries
Scapulars
Thigh
Belly
Flank

Scientists have names for A bird’s eyes are big and are usually set on the sides of its
groups of feathers according to
where they grow on a bird’s
head. The eyes focus independently, so that the bird sees two
body. (Illustration by Marguette different things at the same time. This gives the bird a very
Dongvillo. Reproduced by wide view and helps it to watch for predators in most direc-
permission.)
tions. Most birds cannot roll their eyes, but they can turn
their heads farther around than mammals can. Owls and other
birds of prey have forward-facing eyes that usually work to-
gether. This helps them judge distance as they swoop down
on prey.

Hearing
Birds have a good sense of hearing—they can hear about as
well as mammals. The sound goes in through a little opening
near each eye. The holes are usually covered with feathers. They
lead to the bird’s middle and inner ear, which are very sensi-
tive to sounds. Because owls hunt at night, hearing is especially
important to them. Some owls have a disc of stiff feathers on
the face. The disc catches sounds, such as the squeaks of a
mouse, and leads them to the ears.

Touch
Birds have many nerve endings, which shows that they have
a good sense of touch. They can also feel pain, hot, and cold.

xliv Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

 Birds’ bodies have adaptations
for flight, including air sacs in
the chest and hollow bones to
Ulna keep them light, and strong
chest muscles. (Illustration by
Emily Damstra. Reproduced by
permission.)

Lung
Air Sacs

Muscle
Subcutaneous Fat Deposit
Skin
Feathers

Some long-billed birds have very sensitive bills and can feel
their prey in muddy water.

Smell and taste

Most birds’ sense of smell seems to be poorly developed. But
kiwis, turkey vultures, and several other birds are able to find
food by sniffing it. Although birds do not have many taste buds
on their tongues, they can often taste well enough to avoid eat-
ing harmful foods.

Getting to Know Birds xlv

 2

6 4
5

9
7

8 10

12
11
13

Bills are different shapes and sizes for different eating methods: 1. The greater flamingo filters microorganisms from
water; 2. A peregrine falcon tears its prey; 3. Roseate spoonbills sift water for fish; 4. The Dalmation pelican scoops
fish in its pouch; 5. Anna’s hummingbird sips nectar; 6. The brown kiwi probes the soil for invertebrates; 7. The green
woodhoopoe probes bark for insects; 8. Rufous flycatchers catch insects; 9. Java sparrows eat seeds; 10. Papuan
frogmouths catch insects; 11. The bicornis hornbill eats fruit; 12. American anhingas spear fish; 13. Rainbow lorikeets
crack nuts. (Illustration by Jacqueline Mahannah. Reproduced by permission.)

WHAT’S INSIDE?
Organs and muscles
Birds have many of the same organs that humans have, but
they have special features that help with flight and keep them
light. Their biggest, strongest muscles control their wings. Birds

xlvi Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

 The number of toes, and the
Perching arrangement of their toes and
feet fit birds’ different
Running lifestyles. (Illustration by
Jacqueline Mahannah.
Reproduced by permission.)

Wading

Climbing

Swimming

Running on
floating
vegetation

Hunting

Getting to Know Birds xlvii

When a bird perches, its ankle
bends and contracts (pulls
together) the tendons in its
foot, forcing its foot to close
around the perch (B).
(Illustration by Jacqueline
Mahannah. Reproduced by
permission.)

do not have a heavy jaw with teeth to grind their food. Instead,
it is ground up in a muscular stomach called a gizzard, and
they swallow gravel to help with the grinding. To get the en-
ergy they need for flight, birds digest their food quickly. Their
fast digestion also keeps them from being weighed down for
long by the food they have eaten.

Skeleton
A birds’ skeleton is strong, even though it light. Many of the
bones are hollow, and some of them are joined together to give
the skeleton extra strength. (Loons and other diving birds have
some solid bones to help the birds sink in the water.) The
breastbone, or sternum, of a flying bird has a part called the
keel. The bird’s big flight muscles are attached to the keel.
What looks like a backward-bending knee on a bird is really
its ankle. The bird’s knee is hidden high up inside its body
feathers.

Body temperature
Birds are warm-blooded, which means their bodies stay at
an even temperature no matter how warm or cold it is out-
side. They make their own heat from the food that they eat.
Some birds cope with cold weather by growing extra feathers
or a layer of fat, fluffing their feathers to trap more air, and
huddling together with other birds. When birds can’t find
enough food to keep warm, they fly to warmer places. In hot
weather, they cool down by panting, swimming in cool wa-
ter, sitting in the shade, and raising their wings to catch a
breeze.

xlviii Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

 Olfactory lobe
Cerebrum
Optic lobe
Cerebellum

Medulla oblongata

Pituitary
Spinal cord
Esophagus Lung
Testis
Kidney
Uropygial gland

Trachea

Crop
Pancreas

Cloaca

Heart Small intestine

Gizzard
Liver

FAMILY LIFE Though birds may look different

on the outside, they have the
Singing same organs on the inside.
(Illustration by Marguette
Singing is one of the most important ways that songbirds Dongvillo. Reproduced by
communicate. Birds do not sing just because they are happy. permission.)
Instead, a male songbird sings to say that he “owns” a certain
territory, and he warns birds of the same species to stay away.
Songbirds do not have to see each other to know who is nearby.
Birds can recognize the songs of their neighbors, because each
bird of the same species sounds a little different. Male birds
show off to females by singing the most complicated songs they
can. Often the best singers are the strongest, healthiest males.

Getting to Know Birds xlix

 Frontal Parietal
Sclerotic ring Occipital Digit 3

Digit 4
Premaxilla Digit 2
Carpometacarpus

Dentary Ulna

Radius
Cervical vertebrae Scapula
Illium
Humerus Synsacrum

Thoracic vertebrae
Pygostyle
Coracoid
Caudal vertebrae
Furcula Ischium

Sternal ribs Pubis

Cervical ribs
Sternum
Fibula
Keel
Femur Tibiotarsus

Tarsometatarsus
Digit 2
Digit 3 Digit 1
Digit 4

Birds have a strong, light When a female songbird hears her mate singing, her brain tells
skeleton. (Illustration by
Marguette Dongvillo.
her body to make hormones (special chemicals). These hor-
Reproduced by permission.) mones make eggs start to grow inside her body.

Other ways birds communicate

Singing is just one of the many ways that birds communicate
with each other. They have warning calls that tell other birds
that a predator is nearby. They chirp to say, “I am here, where
are you?” And young birds sometimes beg noisily to be fed. At
breeding time, birds have a variety of courtships displays that
ask, “Will you be mine?” and state, “We belong together.” These
include bowing, flight displays, and calling together. Male birds

l Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource

Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
The Project Gutenberg eBook of
The Mark of Cain
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
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you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The Mark of Cain

Author: Carolyn Wells

Illustrator: Gayle Porter Hoskins

Release date: February 8, 2014 [eBook #44841]

Most recently updated: October 24, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Mardi Desjardins and

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MARK OF

CAIN ***
“SEND AWAY THAT BOY! ORDER HIM OUT, AVICE!”
Page 254
 THE
MARK OF CAIN
By CAROLYN WELLS
Author of “A Chain of Evidence,” “The Gold Bag,” “The White Alley,”
etc.

WITH A FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR BY

GAYLE HOSKINS

PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON

J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
1917

COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

PUBLISHED JANUARY, 1917

PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS
PHILADELPHIA, U. S. A.
 CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. Through the Green Cord 7
II. Who Could Have Done It? 21
III. Pinckney, the Reporter 33
IV. The Inquest Begins 45
V. The Swede 57
VI. Out of the West 69
VII. Stephanotis 81
VIII. The Milk Bottle 93
IX. A Clause in the Will 105
X. Stryker’s Handkerchief 117
XI. Duane, the Detective 127
XII. A New Theory 139
XIII. Fibsy Fibs 153
XIV. Two Suitors 165
XV. The Trap that was Set 175
XVI. A Promise 187
XVII. Madame Isis 198
XVIII All for Love 210
.
XIX. Two at Luncheon 223
XX. Fleming Stone 233
XXI. Stone’s Questions 245
XXII. Judge Hoyt’s Plan 259
XXIII In Kito’s Care 269
.
XXIV. Escape 282
XXV. The Whole Truth 294

[7]

THE MARK OF CAIN

 CHAPTER I
THROUGH THE GREEN CORD

Judge Hoyt’s strong, keen face took on a kindlier aspect

and his curt “Hello!” was followed by gentler tones, as
he heard the voice of the girl he loved, over the
telephone.

“What is it, Avice?” he said, for her speech showed

anxiety.

“Uncle Rowly,—he hasn’t come home yet.”

“He hasn’t? Well, I hope he’ll turn up soon. I want to

see him. I was coming up this evening.”

“Come now,” said Avice; “come now, and dine here. I

am so anxious about uncle.”

“Why, Avice, don’t worry. He is all right, of course.”

“No he isn’t. I feel a presentiment something has

happened to him. He never was so late as this before,
unless we knew where he was. Do come right up, won’t
you, Judge?”

“Certainly I will; I’m very glad to. But I’m sure your
fears are groundless. What about Mrs. Black? Is she
alarmed?”

“No, Eleanor laughs at me.”

“Then I think you needn’t disturb yourself. Surely she

——”

“Yes, I know what you’re going to say, but she isn’t a bit [8]
fonder of Uncle Rowly than I am. Good-by.”

Avice hung up the receiver with a little snap. She was

willing that Mrs. Black should marry her uncle, but she
did hate to be relegated to second place in the
household. Already the handsome widow was asserting
her supremacy, and while Avice acknowledged the
justice of it, it hurt her pride a little.

“I’ve asked Judge Hoyt to dinner,” she said, as she

returned to her post at the window.

Mrs. Black glanced up from the evening paper she was

reading and murmured an indistinct acquiescence.

It was late June, yet the city home of the Trowbridges

was still occupied by the family. As Avice often said, the
big town house was cooler than most summer resorts,
with their small rooms and lack of shade. Here, the
linen-swathed furniture, the white-draped chandeliers
and pictures, the rugless floors, all contributed to an
effect of coolness and comfort.

Avice, herself, in her pretty white gown, fluttered from

one window to another, looking out for her uncle.

“Mrs. Black, why do you suppose Uncle Rowly doesn’t

come? He said he would be home early, and it’s after six
o’clock now!”
“I don’t know Avice, I’m sure. Do be quiet! You fluster
around so, you make me nervous.”

“I’m nervous myself, Eleanor. I’m afraid something has

happened to uncle. Do you suppose he has had a
stroke, or anything?”

“Nonsense, child, of course, not. He has been detained [9]

at the office for something.”

“No he hasn’t; I telephoned there and the office is

closed.”

“Then he has gone somewhere else.”

“But he said he would be home by five.”

“Well, he isn’t. Now, don’t worry; that can do no good.”

But Avice did worry. She continued to flit about, dividing

her attention between the clock and the window.

The girl had been an orphan from childhood, and

Rowland Trowbridge had been almost as a father to her.
Avice loved him and watched over him as a daughter; at
least, that had been the case until lately. A few weeks
since, Mr. Trowbridge had succumbed to the rather florid
charms of Mrs. Black, his housekeeper, and told Avice
he would marry her in a month.

Though greatly surprised and not greatly pleased, Avice

had accepted the situation and treated the housekeeper
with the same pleasant courtesy she had always shown
her. The two “got along” as the phrase is, though their
natures were not in many ways congenial.
Avice remained at the window till she saw at last Leslie
Hoyt’s tall form approaching. She ran to open the door
herself.

“Oh, Judge Hoyt,” she cried, “Uncle hasn’t come yet!

There must be something wrong! What can we do?”

“I don’t know, Avice, dear. Tell me all about it.” [10]

“There’s nothing to tell, only that uncle said he would be

home at five, and it’s almost seven and he isn’t here!
Such a thing never happened before.”

“Good evening, Judge Hoyt,” said Mrs. Black’s cool,

measured voice as they entered the drawing-room. “I
think our Avice is unnecessarily alarmed. I’m sure Mr.
Trowbridge can take care of himself.”

“That is doubtless true,” and for the first time a note of

anxiety crept into Hoyt’s tone; “but as Avice says, it is
most unusual.”

Mrs. Black smiled indifferently and returned to her

paper.

Leslie Hoyt was so frequent a visitor at the house, that

he was never treated formally. He seated himself in an
easy chair, and took a cigarette case from his pocket,
while Avice continued her nervous journeys between the
clock and the window.

“We won’t wait dinner after seven,” said Mrs. Black, in a

voice that might mean either command or suggestion,
as her hearers preferred.

“You may have it served now, if you like,” returned

Avice, “but I shan’t go to the table until uncle comes.”
Now, it had been nearly two hours before this that a
telephone call had been received at police headquarters.

“Is dees polizia stazione?” Inspector Collins had heard,

as he held the receiver to his ear.

Through the green cord the broken voice spoke in a

halting way, as if uncertain how to word the message.

“Yes; who is speaking?” Collins replied. [11]

“Meester Rowlan’ Trowbridga,—he is dead-a.”

“I can’t hear you! What’s all that racket where you are?”

“My bambini—my childaren. They have-a da whoopa-

cough.”

“It’s more than children making all that noise! Who are
you?”

“Not matter. I say, Meester Trowbridga—he dead-a.”

“Rowland Trowbridge dead! Where—who are you?”

“You find-a heem. Bringa da bod’ home.”

“Where is he?”

“Van Cortaland’ Park. By da gollif play. You go finda da

man—Bringa da bod’ home.”

“See here, you tell me who you are!”

But a sudden click told that the message was finished,

and after a few impatient hellos, Collins hung up the
receiver.
“Rubbish!” he said to himself; “some Dago woman
trying to be funny. But a queer thing,—Rowland
Trowbridge! Phew, if it should be! I’ll just call up his
house.”

Collins called up the Trowbridge house on Fifth Avenue.

Not to alarm any one he merely inquired if Mr.
Trowbridge was at home. The answer was no, and,
glancing at the clock, Collins called up Mr. Trowbridge’s
office in the Equitable Building. There was no response,
and as it was five o’clock, he assumed the office was
already closed.

“I’ve got a hunch there’s something in it,” he mused, [12]

and acting on his conviction, he called up the Van
Cortlandt Park Precinct Station, and told the story.

Captain Pearson, who took the message, shrugged his

shoulders at its dubious authority, but he assembled
several detectives and policemen, and set off with them
in a patrol car for the golf links.

Up to Van Cortlandt Park they went, past the gay-

coated, gay-voiced golf players, on along the broad road
to the woods beyond.

“By golly! There he is!” cried one of the detectives,

whose expectant eyes noted a dark heap on the
ground, well back among the trees.

Jumping from the car and running across the uneven,

root-roughened ground, they found the dead body of
Rowland Trowbridge.

Dressed in his business clothes, his hat on the ground

near by, the body was contorted, the hands clenched,
and the face showed an expression of rage, that
betokened a violent death.

“He put up a fight,” observed Pearson. “Poor man, he

had no chance. Somebody stabbed him.”

A gash in the blood-stained waistcoat proved that the

aim at the victim’s heart had been all too sure, and his
frantic, convulsive struggles of no avail.

Eagerly the men looked for clues. But they found

nothing save the dead man and his own belongings.
The scene of the tragedy was not very far from the
road, but it was well screened by the thick summer
foliage, and the rocks and high tree roots hid the body
on the ground from the sight of passers-by.

“Footprints?” said Lieutenant Pearson, musingly. [13]

“Nothing doing,” returned Detective Groot. “Some few

depressions here and there—of course, made by human
feet—but none clear enough to be called a footprint.”

“And the ground is too stony and grassy to show them.

Look well, though, boys. No broken cuff-links, or
dropped gloves? It’s a canny murderer who doesn’t
leave a shred of incriminating evidence.”

“It’s a fool murderer who does,” returned Groot. “And

this affair is not the work of a fool. Probably they’ve
been spotting Mr. Trowbridge for months. These
millionaires are fair game for the Dago slayers.”

“Why Dago?”

“Didn’t an Italian woman turn in the call? How could she

know of it unless some of her own people did it?”
“But there seems to be no robbery. Here’s his watch and
scarfpin all right.”

“And his roll?”

“Yes,” said Pearson, after an investigation of the dead

man’s pockets. “Bills and change. Nothing taken,
apparently.”

“Valuable papers, maybe.”

“Not a Dago, then. Your theories don’t hang together. [14]

Well, this will create some stir in the Street! Biggest
sensation in years. Rowland Trowbridge! Phew! Won’t
the papers go crazy!”

“What family has he? Wife?”

“No, nor child. Only a niece, but she’s the apple of his
eye. We’ll get Collins to telephone to the house. It’s an
awful business.”

The business was awful, and its awful details took so

much time that it was seven o’clock before Inspector
Collins called up the Trowbridge home.

“Maybe that’s uncle now!” cried Avice, and springing

from her chair she went to the ringing telephone.

“Hello—yes—no,—oh, tell me!—I am Miss Trowbridge,—

no, his niece,—please come here, Judge Hoyt!”

Leslie Hoyt took the receiver from the hand of the

agitated girl, and received this message from the police
station.
“Yes, sir; I couldn’t tell the young lady, sir. Do you
belong to the family? Well, then, there’s no use beatin’
round the bush. Mr. Trowbridge is dead. We found his
body in Van Cortlandt Park woods. Will you come here
to identify it?”

“Wait a minute! Let me think!” and Hoyt strove to

control himself. “Avice, you were right. Something has
happened.”

“Oh, Uncle Rowly!”

“Yes,—” and Hoyt’s voice faltered, “he has been—has

been hurt. They—they have found him——”

“I know,” said Avice, standing perfectly still, while her [15]

face went white. “You needn’t tell me. I know. He is
dead.”

Hoyt looked at her dumbly, not contradicting. He had

loved the girl for years, but though she liked him, she
would give him no promise, and he still hoped and
waited. He turned back to answer the insistent
telephone. “Yes; of course, there is nothing else to do.
Tell the coroner. I will go there at once. Are you sure of
what you tell me?”

“There can be no doubt,” he said gently, as he finally

left the telephone. “There are letters in his pockets, and
some of the policemen know him. Avice, dear!”

But Avice had flung herself on a couch, her face buried

in the pillows, and was sobbing her heart out.

“Let her cry,” said Mrs. Black, softly, as she laid her long
white hand gently upon the bowed head; “it will do her
good. Tell me all, Judge Hoyt. I am the one in charge
now.”

The woman’s handsome face showed dignity and

authority rather than grief, but Leslie Hoyt was merely
the dead man’s lawyer, and had no right to intrude
personal comment or sympathy. He had long been a
close friend of Rowland Trowbridge and his niece, but
with the housekeeper his acquaintance was but formal.

“I know very little, Mrs. Black,” he said, his eyes [16]

wandering to the convulsed figure on the couch. “The
inspector merely told me that Mr. Trowbridge has been
killed and that some one must go to the police station
to represent the family. As his lawyer, it is appropriate
that I should go, and, indeed, it seems to me there is no
one else who could—” his voice broke as he looked
again at Avice, now sitting up and staring, wide-eyed at
him.

“Yes, do go, Judge Hoyt,” she cried; “you are the one—
who else could? Not I, surely,—you don’t want me to
go, do you?”

“No, Avice, no, dear,” said Mrs. Black, soothingly.

“Nobody thought of your going. Judge Hoyt has kindly
consented——”

“I will stop for Doctor Fulton, I think, and ask him to go

with me,” and Leslie Hoyt took up his hat. “You had
better go to your room, Avice. It may be a long time
before my return.”

“I will look after her,” and Mrs. Black nodded her head.
“I will attend to everything.”
She accompanied Hoyt to the door, saying in low tones,
“When you come back, will you bring the the—will you
bring Mr. Trowbridge with you?”

“I can’t be sure. There are so many formalities to be

looked after. Try to keep Avice as quiet as possible. It
will be a trying scene at best, when we return.”

“I will do all I can for her. How fortunate that you are
here, Judge Hoyt.”

“Indeed, yes. Had I not been, the girl might have

insisted on going on this awful errand.”

The judge walked the few blocks to Doctor Fulton’s

office, and luckily finding him in, they both went at once
in the doctor’s car to the scene of the tragedy.

“Let me give you some quieting draught, Avice dear,” [17]

said Mrs. Black, as she returned to the girl, “and then
I’m going to send you to bed.”

“Indeed, you’ll do nothing of the kind. I have quite as

much right here as you have.”

“Of course you have,” and the lady’s voice was as

straightforward as her words. “I only want to spare you
the shock.”

“I don’t want to be spared, I want to know all about

everything that goes on. I won’t be treated as a child or
an imbecile! I want to help.”

“But, my dear, there is nothing to do.”

“There will be. If Uncle Rowly has been killed, some one
has done the deed, and I shall never rest until I find out
who did it, and bring him to justice! How can you sit
there so calmly? Don’t you care? You, who pretended to
love him!”

“There, there, Avice, don’t get so excited. I know how

you must feel, but——”

“Don’t talk to me, Eleanor! You drive me crazy!”

Offended, and a little frightened at the girl’s vehemence,

the older woman ceased all attempts at conversation,
and busied herself about the rooms, with those futile,
nervous little motions that most women indulge in
under stress of great excitement.

“I think, Avice, dear, you ought to try to eat some

dinner,” she suggested. “Shall we go out together?”

But Avice only looked at her in dumb reproach, and

closed her eyes as if to dismiss the subject.

Mrs. Black went into the dining-room alone. [18]

“There has been an accident, Stryker,” she said to the

butler, thinking it unwise to say more at the present.
“They will bring Mr. Trowbridge home after a time.
Meantime, say nothing to the other servants, and give
me my dinner, for I feel I must try to eat something.”

Mrs. Black’s face was inscrutable as she sat at the well-

appointed table. She ate a little of the dishes Stryker
brought, but her thoughts were evidently far away. She
frowned now and then, and once she smiled, but mostly
she seemed in a brown study, and as if she had weighty
affairs on her mind. Not a tear did she shed, nor did she
look bowed with sorrow; indeed, her fine, well-poised
head held itself a little higher than usual as she gave
low-voiced orders to the butler now and then.

She returned to the drawing-room and the weary hours

dragged by. Occasionally the two women spoke to each
other, but only of trivialities, or necessary details of
arrangement. No word of sympathy or common grief
passed between them.

At last they heard steps outside, and they knew

Rowland Trowbridge was being brought into his house
for the last time.

Judge Hoyt came in first and kept the two women in the
drawing-room while the bearers took their tragic burden
up to Mr. Trowbridge’s own room. Shortly afterward
Doctor Fulton came down.

“Mr. Trowbridge was murdered,” he said briefly. [19]

“Stabbed with a dagger. He has been dead five or six
hours now. Perhaps more.”

“Who did it?” cried Avice, looking more like an avenging

angel than a grief-stricken girl.

“They have no idea. The coroner must try to determine

that.”

“The coroner!” exclaimed Mrs. Black in horror.

Avice turned on her. “Yes, coroner,” she said; “how else

can we find out who killed Uncle Rowly, and punish him,
—and kill him!”

Every one stared at Avice. The policeman in the hall

looked in at the doorway, as her ringing tones reached
him. The girl was greatly excited and her eyes blazed
like stars. But she stood quietly, and spoke with
repressed force.

“What is the first thing to do?” she said, turning to

Doctor Fulton, and then glancing past him to the
policeman in the doorway.

“Wait, Avice, wait,” put in Leslie Hoyt; “let us consider a

moment.”

“There is nothing to be considered, Leslie. Uncle is

dead. We must discover who killed him. We must get
the best detectives, and we must never rest until we
have brought the villain to justice.”

“Of course, of course, Avice,” said Mrs. Black,

soothingly, “but we can’t hurry so, child.”

“We must hurry! It is only by beginning at once that we

can find clues and things. Delay means opportunity for
the criminal to escape!”

Hoyt and Doctor Fulton looked at the girl in amazement. [20]

Where had she learned these terms that fell so readily
from her tongue?

“She is right,” said Judge Hoyt, sadly. “There must be no

unnecessary delay in these matters. But the law moves
slowly, at best. Everything possible will be done, Avice;
you may rest assured of that. The coroner is upstairs
now, and when he comes down he will want to talk with
you. You won’t object?”

“Indeed, no. I want to see him. Why, only think, I know

nothing,—nothing, as yet, as to how Uncle Rowly met
his death!”
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