INTRODUCTIOISr. xxvii 



gonj'S, the tip either compressed and truncate or depressed and acute. 

 Feet three-toed and with basal webbing (^Hmmatopus), or four-toed and 

 cleft {Strepsilas) IIa:matopodidcB. 



Legs moderate. Tarsus shorter tlian tail, reticulate. Hind toe wanting 

 (except in Sqaatarola, where very small, and in Aphriza). Bill short, 

 straight, — not exceeding the head (generally shorter), — shaped like a 

 pigeon's, with short, broad, soft nasal fossffi separated by a constriction from 

 the enlarged, obtuse, horny terminal part. Head large, globose, contracting 

 suddenly to the bill. Neck short Cliaradriidce. 



Legs moderate. Tarsus shorter than tail, scutellate. Hind toe present. 

 Bill long, — equalling, or oftener exceeding, frequently several times longer 

 than, the head; softish and membranous to the very tip. without constric- 

 tion in its continuity ; straight or variously curved .... Scohpacidce. 

 Toes lobate. Tarsi notably compressed. 



General characters of Scolopacidce. Body depressed; the under plumage 

 thickened, duck-like. Habits natatorial Phalaropodidce. 



AxALTsrs OF F.\Mii.iES OF HERODIONES. 



Hallux lengthened, perfectly incumbent, with large claw. Tarsi scutellate. Mid- 

 dle claw pectinate. Bill perfectly straight, tapering, acute. Loral region defi- 

 nitely naked, continuous with covering of the bill. Head narrow, elongate, 

 tapering .............. Ardeidce. 



Hallux somewhat reduced, less perfectly incumbent. Tarsi commonly reticulate. 

 Middle claw not pectinate. Lores, gular space and usually more of the head, 

 naked. Bill variously curved or with expanded tip. (Genera Tantalus, Ibis, 

 Mycieria, and Platalea.) Tantalidce. 



AxALVsrs OF Families of ALECTORIDBS. 



Of great stature, with extremely long neck and legs. Part or all of the head 

 bare. Toes much shorter than the tarsi ; with basal webbing, but without loba- 

 tion ; hallux very short, highly elevated. Bill equalling or exceeding the head, 

 compressed, perfectly straight, contracted about the middle, with enlarged acute 

 terminal poition; nasal fossie wide and deep, with large perforate nostrils . GniidcB. 



Size moderate and small ; neck and logs comparatively short. Head com- 

 pletely feathered, excepting, in the Coots and Gallinules, a l.iroad horny frontal 

 plate. Toes equalling or exceeding the tarsi, simple or lobate. Bill not con- 

 stricted in the middle, rather .shorter than the head, straight and quite stout; or 

 much longer, regularly slender and decurved. with long nasal fossK. Nostrils 

 incompletely or not perforate Rallida. 



Analysis of Families "f LAMELLIROSTRES. 



Of great stature, with extraordinarily lengthened neck and legs. Bill of unique 

 shape, bent abruptly down from the middle. Tibiae naked below. Hind toe 

 minute or absent. Wings rounded. Red the chief color . . . PhoenkopteridcB. 



Of moderate size; the neck short, or, when lengthened, not accompanied by 

 co-ordinately lengthened legs, these being always shorter than the wing. Bill 

 straight. Tibire feathered below. Hind toe present ; well developed and func- 

 tional, though short inatidce. 



