CHAPTER XXXII. 
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIRD. 
Kyowrne the bird by the usual keys is often a 
great bugbear to the untrained bird lover. 
Let us see, if you should have in hand a bird be- 
longing anywhere within the United States, whether 
you can read this supplementary chapter through with- 
out knowing to which of the groups on our diagram 
your specimen belongs. 
The linear arrangement of the orders here is that 
of the American Ornithologists’ Union. 
(1) Ostrich forms (Struthiones) are known by their 
great size, or by the small, flightless wings combined 
with a nonswimming foot, or by hairlike plumage, 
with the nostrils in the end of the beak. All ostrich 
forms now in the United States have been imported 
or are reared from imported parents, and are kept in 
confinement. 
Now, if your bird is evidently aquatic, with short 
legs and swimming toes, begin at the next paragraph 
(2); if it has long legs, bare above the joints (a wader, 
evidently), skip to paragraph (14) of this chapter; if 
the feet and legs are not at all aquatic, but the feath- 
ers extend down to the joint, go to paragraph (21); 
if toes are only two in front, or if the outer and middle 
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