4 KEY TO FAMILIES OF WATER BIRDS 



ORDER HERODIONES: HERONS, STORKS, AND 

 IBISES. 



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



Ibididee : 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. 



Ciconiidce : 



Storks and Wood Ibises, p. 72. 



2'. Bill straight and sharp ; neck and most of 



_ head feathered. Fig. l.j. Ardeidae : 



Fig. 15. ^ Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, p. 72. 



ORDER PALUDICOL^ : CRANES, RAILS, COOTS, 

 AND GALLINULES. 



1. Hind toe small and much elevated : size large, wing 17 or 



more. Fig-. 1(3 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^: SHORE BIRDS. 



1 . Hind claw, if any, not longer than its toe. 



2. Front of tarsus covered with transverse scutellse. Fig-. 18. 

 3. Tarsus very thin, toes with lateral scallops or membranes. 

 Phalaropodidse : Phalaropes, p. 84. 

 3'. Tarsus rounded, toes without lateral scallops or mem- j,j^ jg 

 branes. 

 4. Bill slender, longer than middle toe without claw. 



Scolopacidae : Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. 

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

 Aphrizidae : Surf Birds and Turnstones, p. 106. 

 2'. Front of tarsus covered with hexagonal or irregular scu- 

 tellse. Fig. 19. 

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



Recurvirostridae : Avocets and Stilts, p. 86. 

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



4. Bill longer than tarsus, laterally compressed and wedge- ^^' 



shaped . . Haematopodidae : Oyster-catcherS, p. 107. 

 4'. Bill shorter than tarsus, pointed, not laterally compressed. 



Charadriidae : Plovers, p. 102. 

 1'. Hind claw longer than its toe ; wing with spur. 



Jacanidae : Jacana, p. 108. 



