XX NORTH AilEKICAN BIRDS. 



Xortli America," modified somewhat in accordance with more recent views 

 of Professor Sundevall and others. But before proceeding to tlie analysis 

 of the families, I will introduce an artificial clew to the preceding higlier 

 groups as adopted, so far as they are rejiresented by North American 

 species. 



ARTIFICIAL KKY TO THK FOKECOINO HIGHER GROUPS, 



By means of which any North Amei-imn bird may be readily referred to tJuit group to xchich it 



is lield to belong. 



I. Toes 3 ; 2 in IVoiil, 1 Iji-liiiid (Pici) Vlcxv.\s.. 



II. Toe.s 3 ; all in front. Toe.s deft or semipalmate Limicolje. 



Toe.s palmate. Nostrils tubular .... Loxgipesnes. 

 Nostrils not tubular . Pygopodes. 



III. Toes 4 ; 2 in front, '2 behind. Bill eered and hooked P.slTTACi. 



Bill neither cered nor hooked. (Cucu/i or Pici) Pic.\ri.e. 



IV. Toes 4 ; 3 in front, 1 behind. 



1. Toes .syudactyle (Cuctili) Pic.4lil.E. 



2. Toes totipalmate (all four full-webbed) ...... Steg.\nopodes. 



3. Toes palmate. Bill eun-ed up ....... hniKOLlE. 



Bill not eurved up ; lamellate . . Lamelliro.stres. 



not lamellate ; hallux lobate . Pygopodes. 



hallux not lobate LoNGIPENNES. 



4. Toes lobate. Tail rudimentary . . . Py'gopodes. 



Tail perfeet. A homy frontal .sliield Alectokides. 



No horny frontal shield .... LlMlcoL^. 



5. Toes semipalmate ; joined by evident movable basal web (A). 



6. Toes cleft to the base, or there immovably coherent (B). 

 A. Hind toe elevated above the level of the rest. 



Tibiie naked below. Nostrils perforate Alectokides. 



Nostrils imperforate. Tarsi reticulate. Head bald . HEnoDioxEs. 



Head feathered Limicol*;. 

 Tarsi scutellate in front . . Limicol.e. 



Tibiffi feathered below. Nostrils perforate R-A.ptokes. 



No.strils imperforate. Gape reaching below eye. (Cypseli) PiCAia.ffi. 

 Gape not reaching below eye . Gallin.e. 

 AA. Hind toe inserted on the level of the rest. 



Tibia; naked below Hekodiones. 



Tibiae feathered below. Bill cered and hooked Raptores. 



Bill not cered. Nasal membrane soft an<l tumid . Columb*. 

 Na-sal scale hard and flat . . . Gallin.jb. 

 B> Hind toe elevated above the level of the rest. 



Gape reaching below eye {Cyi>seli) Picaki*. 



Gape not below eye. First priniaiy emarginate or about equal to 2d . . Limicol.^;. 

 First primary not emarginate and much shorter than 2d, Alectorides. 

 BB« Hind toe inserted on the level of the rest. 



Nostrils opening beneath soft swollen membrane . . . . . • Columb.e. 



Nostrils otherwise. Bill cered and hooked Raptores. 



Bill otherwise. Secondaries only .six . . (Cypseli) Picari.^. 



Secondaries more than six («) . . . Passeres. 



(a) Primaries 10 ; the 1st more than § as long as the longest. (GlamcUores) Passeres. 



Primaries in; the 1st not? as long as the longest. ) (o,,,-„^,) , .Passeres. 



Primaries 9. ) 



