XIV THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



Order 8, LIMICOL^ — Shore Birds, including Stilts, Avocets, Phalaropes, 

 Woodcock, Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers, Oyster-catchers and Turnstones. 

 Hind toe less than half as long as the inner one and inserted above the 

 level of the others (if present) ; hind toe absent in certain Plovers; 

 bill long and slender except in Plovers where it is short and stout ; 

 wings long and pointed ; legs long in proportion to size of bird and 

 with lower half of tibia not feathered; nostrils in form of slits or 

 grooves ; generally birds of the sandy beaches, river shores, tide-flats, 

 " half-tide ledges," marshes etc. 



A. Tarsus over 3.50 inches in length, more than twice as long as middle 



toe with claw. Family Recurvirostridae. Avocets and Stilts. 



B. Tarsus less than 3.50 inches in length, less than twice as long as 



middle toe with claw. 



1. Toes with lobe-like membranes and tarsus much compressed. 



Family Phalaropodidae. Phalaropes. 



2. Toes without lobed membranes but sometimes slightly webbed 



near base ; tarsus not much compressed. 

 a. Front of tarsus covered with a continuous row of more or less 

 square or rectangular transverse plates or scales ; bill slender 

 with blunt tip. Family Scolopacidae. Snipes, Sandpipers, 

 Godwits, Yellow-legs, Willets, Dowitchers and Curlews. 

 b. Front of tarsus as in preceeding ; bill stout ; lower portion of 

 back white with black band at rump ; general color black 

 and white with some rufous. Family Aphrizidae. Tvurn- 

 stones. 

 c. Front of tarsus covered with irregular shaped or hexagonal 

 small scales ; bill shorter than the tarsus. Family Chari- 

 id^^. Plovers, 

 d. Front of tarsus covered with irregular shaped or hexago- 

 nal small scales ; bill longer than the tarsus and much 

 compressed at the end. Family Haematopodidae. Oyster- 

 catchers. 



Order 9, GALLING — Turkeys, Grouse, Bob-whites, Partridge, Quail, etc. 

 Hind toe small, elevated above others at point of insertion ; toes four in 

 number ; bill short, stout and horny ; wings not well adapted to long 

 flight, being short ; outer wing primaries stiff and ciurved somewhat ; 

 feet well adapted for scratching. 



A. Tarsus spurred and head naked. Family Phasianidae. Pheasants 



and Turkeys. None at present in Maine. 



B. Tarsus not spurred and head feathered save sometimes a small space 



just over the eyes. Family Tetraonida. Grouse, Bob-whites, Part- 

 ridge and Quails, so-called. 



