Part 154

INCISED´, a. Cut out; cut away.

INCUBA´TION, n. Act of setting on eggs to hatch them.

INCUM´BENT, a. Depressed or bending down upon something; laid at full length; chiefly said of the hind-toe when its whole length rests on the ground or other support, owing to its low insertion on the level of the rest. (131.)

IN´CUS, a. A bone of the inner ear of mammalia, held by high authority to be homologous with the os quadratum of birds (which see). See also MALLEUS.

IN´DEX, n. The principal digit of the wing is often so called, but is really homologous with the third or middle finger of mammals; the pollex or so-called thumb of birds being the homologue of the mammalian index.

IN´DOLES, n. Natural disposition.

INDUMEN´TUM, n. Covering of birds; the ptilosis or plumage. (142.)

IN´FRA- (in composition). Below; under; opposite of supra-. It is in part synonymous with sub-, but refers only, to position, while sub- is of more extensive application.

INFRAMAX´ILLARY, n. The under jaw bone, or mandible.

INFRAOR´BITAL, a. Below the eye-socket.

INFUNDIBU´LIFORM, a. Funnel-shaped.

INFUNDIB´ULUM, n. Funnel; name of several different organs.

INGES´TA, n. pl. Things eaten; contents of crop or stomach. Opposed to egesta.

INGLU´VIES, n. Crop or craw. Also used synonymously with chin.

IN´GUEN, n. The groin; whence the adj. inguinal. (Little used.)

IN´GUINAL, a. Pertaining to the groin.

INNER TOE, n. (127.) In most birds the second is the inner anterior toe; in the trogons, the third or middle toe becomes inner anterior by reversion of the second, which is then inner posterior. In a few exotic kingfishers, the second or inner anterior is rudimentary or wanting. In several birds the hallux or first or hinder toe is reversed, and becomes inner anterior. But in any position the inner toe, properly speaking, is the second, that one with only three joints.

INNOM´INATE (bone), n. The pelvic bone, composed of ilium, ischium, and pubis.

INOSCULA´TION, n. Same as ANASTOMOSIS (which see).

INSECTIV´OROUS, a. Insect-eating.

INSESSO´RES, n. pl. Perching-birds; an order now becoming obsolete.

INSESSO´RIAL, a. Relating to perching-birds.

INSIS´TENT, a. Said of the hind toe, when its base is so elevated that the tip only touches the ground. (130.)

IN´STINCT, n. Imperfect reason; the faculty of doing the right thing without knowing why.

INTEG´UMENT, n. A covering or envelope; commonly, the skin.

INTER- (in composition). Between; among.

INTERARTIC´ULAR, a. Between the joints; in a joint; as, interarticular cartilage.

INTERCOS´TAL, a. Between two ribs; as, intercostal muscle, artery, vein.