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Webster 1913 Edition


Spinetail

Spine′tailˊ

,
Noun.
(Zool.)
(a)
Any one or several species of swifts of the genus
Acanthylis
, or
Chaetura
, and allied genera, in which the shafts of the tail feathers terminate in rigid spines.
(b)
Any one of several species of South American and Central American clamatorial birds belonging to
Synallaxis
and allied genera of the family
Dendrocolaptidae
. They are allied to the ovenbirds.
(c)
The ruddy duck.
[Local, U.S.]