AVES. 



Sub-class Carinatae. 

 Sternum with a keel. Feathers with booklets, the webs firm. 



Key to the Orders. 

 This key is intended to help beginners in naming a bird by directing them to the order, 

 or sub-order, to which it belongs. To use it, begin at No. 1 on the left, and then follow to 

 the number on the descriptive line, answering to the specimen under e.xamination. 



1. Toes without a membrane. 2 

 Toes united by a membrane. 12 

 Toes margined on each side. Pygopodes. 



2. Wings minute, hidden. .\pterygiformes. 

 Wings exposed. 3 



3. Toes three before and one or none behind. 4 

 Toes two before and two behind. 16 



4. Bill hooked, claws very sharp. Raptores. 

 Bill not hooked, claws moderate or blunt. 5 



5. Inner toe partly joined to the middle. Halcyones. 

 Inner toe free. 6 



6. Lower ijortion of tibife feathered. 7 

 Lower portion of tibite naked. 10 



7. Bill soft and swollen at the base. Columbiformes. 

 Bill hard, not swollen at the base. 8 



8. Hind toe at the same level as the others. Passeres. 

 Hind toe elevated above the others. 9 



9. Bill long. Ralliformes. 

 Bill short. Galliformes. 



10. Hind toe at same level as the others. Herodioues. 

 Hind toe elevated or absent. 11 



11. Bill stout, compressed, Ealliformes. 

 Bill slender. Limicolse. 



12. The front toes only connected. 13 



All four toes connected. Steganopodes. 



13. Wings long and pointed. 14 

 Wings with rudimentary feathers. Impennes. 



14. Nostrils in tubes, bill hooked. Tubinares. 

 Nostrils exposed, bill not hooked. 15 



15. Bill with thin plates on each side. Lamellirostres. 

 Bill without thin plates on each side. Gavite. 



16. Bill short and hooked. Psittaci. 

 Bill rather long, slightly curved. C'uculi. 



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