jNTorth American Birds. 



KEY TO THE HIGHER GROUPS. 



a\ Hind toe connected by web or membrane with the inner toe. 



Order Steganopodes. (Page 73.) 

 a}. Hind toe not connected with inner toe. 



h^. Nostrils tubular Order Tubinares. (Page 50.) 



61 Nostrils not tubular. 



c^. Cutting-edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed or serrated. 



d}. Legs short, or but slightly lengthened ; bill not abruptly bent 



downward from the middle Order Anseres. (Page 84.) 



d}. Legs excessively lengthened ; bill bent abruptly downward from 



the middle Order Odontoglossae. (Page 121.) 



c^ Cutting-edges of bill not fringed nor serrated. 



d}. Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, which in standing 

 position is more or less erect, the toes webbed or conspicuously 



lobed Order Pygopodes. (Page 4.) 



d^. Legs inserted near the middle of the body, which in standing posi- 

 tion is nearly horizontal, or else toes not webbed, 

 e'. Anterior toes distinctly webbed, and tai'sus shorter than tail. 



Order Longipennes. (Page 20.) 

 e^. Anterior toes not distinctly webbed, or else tarsus decidedly 

 longer than tail, or else bill extremely small, with gape 

 very broad and deeply cleft. 

 p. Lower portion of thighs naked, or else bill lengthened 

 and grooved along each side, the outer and middle toes 

 separated for their entire length. 

 g^. Hind toe well developed and inserted at same level 

 with anterior toes, the claws never excessively 

 lengthened ; loral or orbital regions, or both (some- 

 times whole head), naked. 



Order Herodiones. (Page 122.) 



1 



