skulling
n.—Gloss: Wiktionary defines this as “the act of aging a young bird by measuring the degree of ossification of its skull.” «The age of the birds can be determined by examining the feathers (color and shape), eye color, soft parts around the beak, and what’s known as “skulling” the bird. Young birds, like infants, go through a process like the soft spot on a baby’s head. These openings can be seen by adding water and gently parting the feathers on the top of the bird’s head and viewing the skull through the bird’s skin. This bony structure can be used to determine the bird’s age.» —“Bird banding a labor of love for Candor man” by Anne O. Stout Ithaca Journal (New York) Oct. 5, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In 1971, when a new public library opened in Troy, Michigan, famous authors and artists were invited to write letters to the city’s youngest readers, extolling the many benefits of libraries. One of the loveliest was from E.B. White, author of...
There was a time when William Shakespeare was just another little seven-year-old in school. Classes in his day were demanding — and all in Latin. A new book argues that this rigorous curriculum actually nurtured the creativity that later flourished...