218 NORTH AM ERICA X BIRDS. 



Order RAPTORES. — Birds of Prey. (Page 2.) 



Families. 



^'. Head entirolj- naked, or else only partially covered with down (in young) ; nos- 

 trils longitudinal ; a distinct web between inner and middle toes, at base ; 

 bind-too short, elevated, the feet wholly unfit for grasping. (Suborder Sar- 



corhamphi.) Cathartidae. (Page 218.) 



5['. Ilead entirely feathered or only partially naked ; nostrils vertical or roundish ; 



no web between inner and middle toes; hind-toe well developed, with largo, 



sharp claw, inserted at the same level with anterior toes, the feet specially 



adapted for grasping. 



i'. Eyes lateral, not surrounded by disks of radiating feathers; cere exposed; 



outer too not reversible (except in Pandion). (Suborder Falcones.) 



Falconidae. (Page 222.) 

 b^. Eyes directed forward, surrounded by disks of radiating feathers; cere con- 

 cealed by loral and frontal bristle-liko feathers; outer toe reversible. 

 (Suborder Striyes.') 

 c'. Inner too as long as middle toe ; inner edge of middle claw pectinated ; 

 feathers on hinder part of tarsus recurved, or pointed upward; first 

 quill longer than third, none of the quills with inner webs sinuated 



or emarginated Strigidae. (Page 255.) 



c'. Inner toe decidedly shorter than middle toe; inner edge of middle claw 

 not pectinated; feathers on hinder part of tarsus (if present) pointed 

 downward ; first quill shorter than third, and at least one (one to 

 six) quill with inner web sinuated or cmai'ginated. 



Bubonidffi. (Page 255.) 



Family CATHARTID^.— The American Vultures. (Page 218.) 



Genera. 



;'. Cere decidedlj' shorter than the upper mandible ; bill very strong, with all its 

 outlines decidedly convex. Adult viales with a fleshj^ "comb" or lobe sur- 

 mounting the top of the cere. 

 b'. I'luniago of adult commencing on the neck with a very distinct collar of 

 white cottony down; jirimaries decidedly longer than secondaries; 

 throat with a median ''dewlap"; "comb" of adult male extending from 

 near anterior border of cere to middle of the crown ; sexes very different, 

 the female lacking entirolj- the "comb" or other fleshy appendages to 

 the head ; verj^ largo (wing 30.00, or more) Sarcorhatnphus.' 



' SiirciJiliiimphua DuMtiUL, Zool. Anal. ISOO, 32. Type, by climin;ition, I'u^dir ijrijplu) LiNN. 



