You might check out the article at Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucistic

Mark



At 10/16/2006, Douglas Canning wrote:
>On 16 Oct 2006 at 10:48, Julia Allen, PhD, DVM wrote:
>
> > Trying to get the definition of the word used to describe the white
> > Black-capped Chickadees - leucastic/leucistic/lecistic - various
> > spellings of the word have appeared in postings.
> >
> > Merriam-Webster OnLine lists the word "leucitic" from the word
> > leucite, a white or grey mineral (none of the other spellings were
> > found.)
> >
> > If this is not the correct spelling, please advise.
>
>The correct spelling is, I believe, leucistic.
>
>The "leuc-" combining form is defined (in part) as "1. white:
>colorless: weakly colored. (Webster's 7th New Collegiate Dictionary)
>
>Leucistic itself is not defined even in Webster's unabridged
>dictionary. It seems to be a biological term.
>
>My interpretation from the previous discussion of this on Tweeters is
>that, ornithologically, leucistic is used to describe a bird with pale
>to nearly white plumage, in whole or in part.
>
>This compares with the term albino which describes an individual with
>abnormally all white plumage (or fur) and generally red eyes.
>
>Be interesting to see what other definitions we come up with.
>
>Doug
>
>*******************
>Douglas Canning
>Olympia, Washington
>dcanning at zhonka.net
>*******************
>
>
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Mark Wensnahan
Ballard/Seattle
reganw at rockisland.com