North American Birds. 



KEY TO THE HIGHER GROUPS. 



a}. Hind toe connected by web or membrane with the inner toe. 



Order Steganopodes. (Page 73.) 

 a'. Hind too, if 2)resent, not connected with inner toe. 



6'. Nostrils tubular and feet webbed Order Tubinares. (Page 50.) 



6'. No.strils not tubular, or else feet not webbed. 



d. Cutting-edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed or dentate ; feet webbed. 

 d'. Legs short, or but slightly lengthened ; bill not abruptly bent 



downward from the middle Order Anseres. (Page 84.) 



(P. Legs excessively lengthened ; bill bent abruptly downward from 



the middle Order Odontoglossae. (Page 121.) 



c'. Cutting-edges of bill not fringed nor dentate, or else I'oct not webbed. 

 d}. Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, which in standing 

 position is more or less erect, the toes webbed or conspicuously 



lobed Order Pygopodes. (Page 4.) 



<P. Legs inserted near the middle of the body, which in standing posi- 

 tion is nearly horizontal, or else toes not webbed. 

 e'. Anterior toes distinctly webbed, and tarsus shorter than tail. 



Order Longipennes. (Page 20.) 

 e*. Anterior toes not distinctly webbed, or else tarsus decidedly 

 longer than tail, or else bill extremely small, with gape 

 very broad and deeply cleft. 

 /'. Lower portion of thighs naked ; or else bill lengthened and 

 grooved along each side, the outer and middle toes sepa- 

 rated for their entire length, and with three toes in front. 

 </'. Hind toe long and inserted at nearly same level with 

 anterior toes, the claws never excessively length- 

 ened ; loral or orbital regions, or both (.sometimes 

 whole head), naked. 



Order Kerodiones. (Page 122.) 



i 



