Vi. KEY 



KEY OF THE OEDERS. 



A. With four toes. 



a. Wings well-developed aud used 

 for flight. 

 c(}. Toes free from one another or 

 only partially webbed. 



a^. Hind-toe jointed at the 

 same level as the other 

 toes. 



a°. Thighs and usually the 

 upper portion of the 

 shanks feathered. 



a\ No cere at the base of 



the bill Passeres and Picariae. 



bK A soft fleshy cere at 

 the base of the bill. 



if. Toes zygodactyle, 

 2nd and 3rd for- 

 wardly, 1st and 

 4th backwardly 

 directed Psittaci (Parrots). 



b\ Oater or fourth toe 

 reversible at will ; 

 eyes and face more 

 or less forvvardly 

 directed Striges (Owls). 



c\ Toes normally ar- 

 ranged 2nd, 3rd, 

 4th, forwardly, 1st 

 backwardly di- 

 rected. 



a". Bill and claws 

 strong, curved, 

 hooked and sharp 

 pointed Accipitres (Hawks). 



b'\ Bill and claws 



weak and straight Columbge (Doves). 



