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 (betid of wing) to tip; under tail coverts, white. 



Family RALLID/E. Subfamily GALLINULIN/E. 

 Purple Qallinule, 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 with 

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



See page 89. 



