SUMMARY OF FAMILIES XV 



Order 10, COLUMB^ — Pigeons and Doves. 



Bill grooved and with the nostrils opening in a soft fleshy swollen mem- 

 brane (the cere) ; toes all on same level, four in number; shorter front 

 toe and hind toe about same length. Family Columbidae. Our well 

 known Pigeons and Doves. 



Order 11, RAPTORES — Vultures, Falcons, Hawks and Owls. 



Bill with a fleshy membrane (cere) at base in which the nostrils open ; 

 bill very stout with upper mandible terminating in a strong well 

 marked hook downward ; toes provided with stout, strong, sharp, 

 curved talons adapted for grasping and tearing : toes foiu:, the hind 

 one usually as long or longer than the shortest front one (except 

 in the Vultures). 



A. Front of face rather flattened and having the appearance of a 



circular disk surrounding the eyes; plumage very soft; tarsus 

 feathered. The only Maine family is Family Bubonidae. Horned, 

 Hoot, Screech, Cat and Snowy Owls. 



B. Front of face not flattened and not having the appearance of a 



circular disk surrounding the eyes ; plumage firm ; tarsus not 

 noticeably feathered. 



1. Head generally bare ; plumage black ; hind toe smaller than the 



others. Family Cathartidse. Buzzards and Vultures. 



2. Head not bare ; hind toe equalling or longer than shortest front 



one. Family Falconidae. Falcons, Hawks, Eagles. 



Order 12, COCCYGES — Cuckoos and Kingfishers. 



Toes two in front and two behind or else with the middle and outer ones 

 joined for half of their length; bill without soft swollen membrane 

 above ; tail feathers sof tish at ends and rounded. 



A. Middle and outer toes joined half their length. Family Alcedinae. 



Kingfishers. 



B. Toes two in front and two behind. Family Cuculidae. Cuckoos. 



Order 13, PICI — Woodpeckers, Flickers and Sapsuckers. 



Bill strong, chisel-like and adapted for working in wood ; toes four, two 

 in front and two behind except in the three-toed Woodpeckers which 

 have only three toes, two in front and one behind ; tail feathers stiff 

 and pointed, well adapted for being used to brace against the trunk of 

 a tree. Family Picidae. Woodpeckers. 



Order 14, MACROCHIRES— Goatsuckers, Nighthawks, Whip-poor-wills, Swifts 

 and Hummingbirds. 

 Size very small with long, very slender pointed bill, or else birds of 

 medium size with short small bill and large gaping mouth ; feet small 

 and weak ; wings long for size of bird, pointed. 

 A. Bill long, slender, upper parts green, iridescent, size diminutive. 

 Family Trochilidae. Hummingbirds, 



