KEY TO FAMILIES OF WATER BIRDS 



ORDER HERODIONES: HERONS, STORKS, AND 



IBISES. 



1. Bill grooved along- sides from nostril to tip. 



Ibididae : Ibises, p; 70. 



1'. Bill not grooved along- sides from nostril to tip. 



'2. Bill slightly decurved or else inclined upward 



toward end ; head and part of neck naked. 



Ciconiidae : 



Storks and Wood Ibises, p. 72. 

 "_' . Bill straight and sharp ; neck and most of 

 head feathered. Fig-. 15. Ardeidae : 



Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, p. 72. 



ORDER PALUDICOL^] : CRANES. RAILS. COOTS, 



AND GALLINULES. 



1. Hind toe small and much elevated ; size larg-e, wing- 17 or 



more. 



Fig. 



1C) Gruidae : Cranes, p. 78. 



1 . Hind toe long, nearly on a level with front toes; 

 size small, wing 10 or less. Fig. 17. Rallidae : 

 Rails, Coots, Gallinules, etc., p. 79. 



Fig. 17. 



Fig. 16. 



ORDER LIMICOL^E: SHORE BIRDS. 



1. Hind claw, it' any, not longer than its toe. 



_'. Kront of tarsus covered with transverse scutellre. Fig. 18. 

 ;!. Tarsus very thin, toes with lateral scallops or memhraues. 

 Phalaropodidae : Phalaropes, p. 84. 

 :! .Tarsus rounded, toes without lateral scallops or mem- 



hranes. 

 4. Bill sleiid.-r. longer than middle toe without claw. 



Scolopacidae : Snipes, Sandpipers, etc., p. 87. 

 4'. Bill stout, not longer than middle toe without claw. 



Aphrizidae : Surf Birds and Turnstones, p. IOC). 

 J . Kront nt tarsus covered with hexagonal or irregular scu- 

 te] la-. Kig. ]<. 

 Tarsus more than twice as long as middle toe and claw. 



Recuivirostridae: Avocets and Stilts, p. 86. 

 . Tarsus less than twice as long as middle toe and claw. 

 I. Hill h.n-er than tarsus, laterally compressed and wedge- Flg> 



Haematopodidae : Oyster-catchers, p. 107. 



shorter th; m t;,,-siis, pointed, not laterally compressed. 



Charadriidae : Plovers, p. 102. 

 Bind da\v Longer than its toe; wing with spur. 



Jacanidae : Jacana, p. 108. 



