44 BIEDS. 



P. FAMILIES OF LAMELLIROSTRES. 

 I. Neck and legs moderate; tibiae feathered; bill not decurvecl. 



ANATFIXE, 60. 

 Q. FAMILIES OF STEGANOPODES. 



I. Bill longer than tail, many times longer than head, with the 

 gular pouch enormous ; wings long. . PELECANID/E, 61. 



IL Bill about as long as head, shorter than tail, which is fan- 

 shaped, of rigid feathers ; wings short. 



PHALACROCORACID/E, 62. 



R. FAMILIES OF LONGIPENNES. 



I. Nostrils not tubular, perforate; bill with a continuous covering. 



LAUID^E, 63. 



S. FAMILIES OF PYGOPODES. 



I. Feet palmate ; tail developed ; head closely leathered. 



COF.YMBTD^E, 64. 



II. Feet lobate ; tail undeveloped ; head usually with naked loral 



strip and peculiar feathers. . . . PODICIPIIXE, 65. 



OEDER G.-PASSERES. 



( Passerine Birds.) 



Toes always 4; feet fitted for perching; the hind toe 

 always on a level with the rest, its claw at least as long 

 as that of middle toe, and often much longer; joints of 

 toes respectively 2, 3, 4, 5, from first to fourth; toes 

 never versatile; wing coverts comparatively few, chiefly 

 in two series. Tail feathers 12, primaries 9 or 10. 

 Musical apparatus more or less developed. Sternum of 

 a certain uniform pattern. Nature altricial. 



This group comprises the great majority of all Birds, 

 and they represent the " highest grade of development, 

 and the most complex organization of the class; their 



