KEY TO THE HIGHER ORDERS. 



a. All four toes united by a web or membrane. . . .(Page 13.) Order Steganopodes. 

 aa. Hind toe, when present, not conne(5led in any way with the other toes. 



b. Nostrils peculiarly tubular, and feet webbed .... (Page 10. ) Order Tubinares. 

 bb. Nostrils not tubular, or feet not webbed. 



C. Feet webbed; cutting edge of the bill dentate; bill as in ducks, geese, etc. 



(Page 16.) Order Anseres. 

 CC. Cutting edge of the bill not fringed or dentate, or else feet not webbed. 



d. Toes distinc5lly webbed ; legs inserted well forward towards the middle of 



the body, which is held horizontal (Page 5.) Order I/Ongipennes. 



dd. Toes not distinctly webbed, or else tarsus longer tlian the tail. 



e. Lower portion of thigh naked, or else bill long and with grooves ex- 

 tending along the sides. 



f. Lores naked; hind toe long and inserted on the same level with 



the middle toe ( Page 20. ) Order Herodiones. 



fF. Lores feathered ; hind toe, when present, never exceeding the 

 length of the lower mandible. 



g. Hind toe longer; inserted on a level with middle toe ( when long 



as the under mandible head with frontal shield ) ( Page 22. ) Order Paludicolse. 



gg. Hind toe shorter; if present, inserted more or less above the 



level of the middle toe ( Page 24. ) Order Limacolae. 



ee. Lower portion of the thighs feathered; the bill, if lengthened, not 

 grooved along the sides. 



h. Bill strongly hooked, with a distinct naked cere at base of 



upper mandible ( Page 32. ) Order Raptores. 



hh. Bill not strongly hooked, and without naked cere at the 

 base of upper mandible ; or, if witli a cere, it is soft and swollen in life. 



i. Hind toe small and elevated. 



( Page 30. ) Order Gallinse. 

 ii. Hind toe always well developed and on the same level 

 with the middle one (mainl}- perching birds). 



j. With soft swollen cere at the base of upper mandible. 



(Page 31.) Order Columbae. 



jj. Without a soft swollen cere; toes, three in front, one 



behind, and on the same level ; not united by web, and tarsus equal to or longer than 



the hind toe with claw ( Page 34. ) Order Passeres. 



[319] " ' i-i) 



