943 



Order io. LIMICOL.T2. Shore Birds. 



While the birds comprising this group are called by some people waders most of them are much 

 less truly such than the Herodiones. They frequent wet or at least moist situations a good deal, and sub- 

 sist mostly upon animals. Few of them Iiave anything approaching song, but some give pleasing calls. 



I. Sides of toes with lobes. 6. Ph.al.^ropodid.\e. Ph.alaropes. 



II. Sides of toes without lobes. 



.\. Tarsus over 3.50 inches. 3. Recurvirostrid.\e. Stilts. Avocets. 



B. Tarsus under 3.50 inches. 



1. Scales on front of tarsus square, large, of one row. 



a. Bill slender, blunt. 2. Scolop.\cidae. Snipes, Sandpipers, 



ETC. 



b. Bill stout, sharp. 4. Aphrizidae. Turnstones, Surf 



2. Scales on front of tarsus not square, small, numerous. Bird. 



a. Bill shorter than tarsus. i. Charadriidae. Plovers. 



b. Bill longer than tarsus. 5. Haematopodidae. OvstercatchErs. 



Ordkr II. LOXGIPENXES. Gulls, Terns, Jaegers. 



As the name implies, these birds have long wings, and are therefore strong fliers. The tail is well 

 developed, the feet webbed, the nostrils open thru slits, and the legs are placed near the middle of the 

 body so that the standing position is nearly horizontal. They live over the water mostly, either 

 gleaning from its surface or diving into it for fish. 



I. Middle tail feathers longest. . i. Stercorariidae. Jaegers. 



II. Tail square or forked. 2. Laridae. Gulls and Terns. 



A. Tail square or nearly so. Larinae. Gulls. 



B. Tail deeply forked. Sterninae. Terns. 



( )rder 12. AXSERES. Ducks, Geese, Swans. 



The general characters of the duck group are too well known to make extended treatment neces- 

 sary. All are game birds and therefore suffer much from gunners. None are harmful, unless it be the 

 Geese occasionally, and many are beneficial. Of course all have webbed feet. 



I. Lores bare. 5. Cvcninae. Swans. 



II. Lores feathered. 



.\. Bill long and slender, cylindrical, i. Mercinae. Mergansers. 



B. Bill flattened and broadened. 



1. Scales on front of tarsus rounded. 4. Anserin.ae. Geese. 



2. Scales on front of tarsus square. 



a. Hind toe with a flap or lobe. 3. Fuligulinae. Sea and Bay Ducks. 



b. Hind toe without a flap or lobe. 2. .\natinae. River and Pond Ducks. 



Order 13. STEGANOPODES. Cormorants, Pelicans, etc. 



Any member of this group may be known at once by the foot, which has all four toes joined 

 together by three webs. They are all strong fliers, but do not spend much time on the wing, pre- 

 ferring to sit quietly on a rock. Their food is largely fish. 



I. .\n enormous pouch below the long bill. 2. Pelecanidae. Pelicans. 



II. With a small pouch and moderate bill. l. PhalacrocoracidaE. Cormorants. 



Order 14. TLTBIN.ARES. Albatrosses, Shearwaters. Fulmars, Petrels. 



Birds of this order belong strictly to the ocean. .-Ml have the nostrils opening thru distinct tubes. 

 tubes. All are excellent fliers. 



I. Length more than 30 inches. i. Diomedeidae. .\lbatrosses. 



II. Length under 25 inches. 2. Prockllariid.\e. Petrels, Shear- 



waters. 



Order 15. PYGOPODES. Diving Birds. 



Members of this order are duck-like birds in general appearance, but unlike many of the ducks, 

 they do not rise from the water when alarmed, but dive into it instead. The bill is not flattened 

 from above downwards and is not hooked, nor has it serrate margins. 



I. With 3 toes. 3. Alcidae. Auks, Murres, Puffins, 



II. With 4 toes. etc. 



A. Toes with webs. 2. Gaviidae. Loons. 



B. Toes with lobes. i. Podicipidae. Grebes. 



