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. 



Ciconiidae : 



Storks and "Wood Ibises, p. 72. 



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



head feathered. Fig. 15. Ardeidae : 



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



1 



ORDER PALUDICOL^ : CRANES, RAILS, COOTS, 

 AND GALLINULES. ^^ 



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



more. Fig-. 10 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. 70. 



Fig. 17. Fig. 16. 



ORDER LIMICOL^: SHORE BIRDS. 



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



2. Front of tarsus covered with transvei'se scutellse. Fig-. 18. 

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

 Phalaropodidae : Phalaropes, p. 84. 

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

 hranes. 

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



Scolopacidae : Snipes, Sandpipers, etc.. 

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

 AphrizidaB : Surf Birds and Turnstones, p. 106. 

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

 tellaj. Fig. 19. 

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



Recurvirostridae : Avocets and Stilts, p. 86. 

 3'. Tar.sus 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. 



