KEY TO FAMILIES. -- WATER BIRDS. 



19 



Section 2. Hind toe, on level with front toes. 



>*\ 



Toes, long and slender; bill, short and pointed; a bare shield or plate on forehead; wing, 

 about 7 inches long, carpus (bend of wing) to tip; under tail coverts, white. 



Family RALLID/E. Subfamily GALLINULIN/C. 

 Purple Gallinule, or Florida Gallinule. 



See page 100. 











Bill, nearly straight and sharply pointed; inner side of middle toe nail, with distinct comb- 

 like edge; toes, four, all on same level. Bitterns, tail with ten feathers. Herons, tail witli 

 twelve feathers. Family ARDEID,. Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns. 



See page 89. 



