KEY TO FAMILIES. 49 



a. Middle toe-nail with a comblike edge. . . . Family Strigidoe, : Barn 

 Oavls (Fig. 30), p. 213. 



b. Middle toe-nail without a comblike edge. . . . Family Buhonidcn: 

 Horned Owls, Hoot Owls (Fig. 29, a), p. 213. 



Fig. 33. 



Fig. 32. 



B. Eyes not set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus mostly hare, plumage 

 firm and close. 



a. Plumage, in our species, black ; hind toe small, claivs blunt ; bill 

 not sharply hooked; head generally bare, . . . Family Cathartidoe, '. 

 American Vultures (Fig. 32), p. 191. 



b. Hind toe generally as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; 

 toes armed with sharp, curved nails or talons; bill with a sharp 

 hook, head not bare. , . . Family Falconidm: Falcons, Kites, 

 Hawks, Eagles (Figs. 29, b, 33), etc., p. 193. 



Order XIII. Psittaci. — 



Parrots, Paroquets, etc. 

 .Toes four, two in front and 

 two behind ; bill with a cere. 

 . . . Family Psittacidce : Par- 

 rots and Pjvroquets (Fig. 34), 

 p. 222. 



Fig. 34. 



Fig. 35. 



-Cuckoos and 



Order XIV. Coccyges. 



Kingfishers. 

 Toes four, the middle and outer ones 

 joined for half their length (Kingfishers), 

 or two in front and two behind (Cuckoos) ; 

 bill without a cere; tail-feathers not stitf 

 and pointed, 

 5 



Fig. 36. 



