B. Wing over 3.50. 



1. Bill over 1 inch. 198. Virginia Rail. 



2. Bill under 1 inch. 199. Sora. 



Family 2. Gruidae. Cranes. 

 The Cranes so closely resemble the Herons in general appearance that one is surprised to note 

 ■that they are really different. In habits they resemble the Herons in many particulars, but are more 

 often found away from water in the uplands. They nest on the ground instead of in trees, as most 

 of the Herons do. They can eat anything. 



I. Wing less than 19 inches. 206. Little Brown Crane. 



II. Wing over 21 inches. 



A. Primaries black, rest of plumage white. 205. Whooping Crane. 



B. Plumage brownish gray. 207. Sandhill Crane. 



Order io. HERODIONES. Bitterns, Herons, etc. 



Family 1. Ardeidae. Bitterns, Herons, Egrets. 



All members of this family have long, sharply pointed bills, long legs and neck, and feed stand- 

 ing 'knee' deep in the water. The sharp bill is a formidable weapon of defense as well as offense, 

 while the long neck enables them to dart that weapon out with a lightning stroke. They feed upon 

 frogs and insects, and occasionally fish which find their way into the shallow water. 



I. Wing less 1 ban 6.00. 



A. Under parts buffy. 209. Least Bittern. 



B. Under parts rufous-chestnut. ( Hypothetical) Cory Least Bit- 



tern. 



II. Wing about 7.25. 214. Green Heron. 



III. Wing i) in 11 inches. 



A. General plumage tawny or umber-brown, everywhere 



streaked with darker. 208. American Bittern. 



B. General plumage slaty-blue. 213. Little Blue Heron. 



C. General plumage white. 



1. Tips of primaries blue. 213. Little Blue Heron (int.) 



2. Tips of primaries not blue. 212. Snowy Heron. 



IV. Wing over 11 inches. 



A. Wing about 12 inches. 



1. Crown black, not streaked. 215. Black-crowned Night Heron. 



2. Crown streaked. 215. Black-crowned Night Heron. 



OO 



B. W ing over 13 inches. 



r. Pure white. 211. American Egret. 



2. Tpper parts bluish. 210. Great Blue Heron. 



Family 2. Ciconiidae. Wood Ibis. 

 The Wood Ibis, the only member of this group found in Ohio, is of more southern distribution, 

 but sometimes wanders to the state. It resembles the Herons in habits. 



216. Wood Ibis. 



Family 3. Ibididae. Ibises. 



The Glossy This is accidental in Ohio, its home being well south. In its wanderings it rarely 

 enters regions of our latitude. 



217. Glossy Ibis. 



Order ii. IJATTCOE.E. Snipes. Sandpipers. Plovers, etc. 

 Family 1. Charadriidae. Plovers. 



The Plovers are short-billed shore birds, and therefore gel their food 1>\- gleaning from the sur- 

 face of the ground on the uplands or along shore. They have whistled calls which are somewhat 

 musical. 



I. Toes 4. 218. Black-bellied Plover. 



II. Toes 3. 



A. Back streaked or spotted. 2I9 . American Golden Plover. 



B. Back neither streaked nor spotted. 



1. Rump rufous. 220. Killdeer. 



2. Rump not rufous. 



