THE BIEDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE 

 NINETIETH MERIDIAN. 



KEY TO ORDERS AND FAMILIES. 

 THE WATER BIRDS. 



Fig. 5. 



Order I. Pygopodes. — Grebes, Loons, and Auks. 



Ducklike birds with generally sharply pointed bills ; feet webbed, placed 

 far back near the tail ; tarsus much flattened ; hind toe, when present, 

 with a lobe or flap ; bill without toothlike projections ; tail very short 

 and sometimes apparently wanting. 

 A. Toes four, tipped with a broad nail. 



a. Toes with lobate webs. . . . Family Fodicipidm'. 



Grebes (Fig. 5, a), p. 56. 

 h. Toes webbed. . . . Family Cfrinatoridoe: Loons (Fig. 

 5, 0), p. 58. 

 £. Toes three, tipped with a sharp nail. . . . Family 

 Alcidce: Auks, Murres, and Puffins (Fig. 5, c), p. 60. 



a 



Order II. Longipennes. — Jaegers, 

 Gulls, and Terns. 

 Birds with sharply pointed and frequently 

 hooked or hawklike bills ; toes four (ex- 

 cept in one genus — Eissn)^ the front ones 

 webbed ; wings long and pointed. 



41 



Fig 6. 



