KEY TO THE ORDERS. , 
I. Feet with webs or lobes. 
A. Feet with webs. 
1. Webs extending to the base of the toe-nails. 
a. Legs far back near the tail; tail short or wanting. 
b. Legs near the middle of the body, tail well developed. 
(1). Hind toe connected to a front one by a web. 
(2). Hind toe, when present, free and opposed to the 
front ones. 
(a). Nostrils opening thru tubes. 
(b). Nostrils not opening thru tubes, 
(at). Bill with tooth-like projections along its 
sides, 
(bt). Bill without tooth-like projections. 
2. Webs not extending to the base of the toe-nails, 
B. Feet with lobes on the sides of the toes. 
1. Legs far back; tail wanting. 
2. Legs near the middle of the body, tail well developed. 
a. Foreheed with a bare shield, 
b. Forehead without a bare shield, bill long and slender. 
Il. Feet with neither webs nor lobes. 
A. Legs and neck long and slender. 
1. Lores bare. 
2. Lores not bare. 
a. Toes four. (Cranes.) 
b. Toes three. (Plovers, etc.) 
B. Legs and neck not decidedly long and slender. 
1. Feet very large, toes long and slender, wings moderate. 
2. Feet and toes moderate. 
a. Lower part of tibia bare. 
b. Lower part of tibia feathered. 
(). Hind toe short, elevated above the front ones. 
(2). Hind toe, when present, on the same level as the 
front ones. 
(a). Nostrils opening beneath a soft fleshy mem- 
brane. 
(b). Bill without a soft fleshy membrane. 
(at). Bill with a tough cere at its base. 
(bt). Bill without a cere. 
(a2). 2 toes in front and 2 behind, or 2 in front 
and 1 behind. 
(a3). Tail feathers stiff and pointed. 
(b3). Tail feathers not stiff. 
(b2). 3 toes in front, 1 behind. 
(a3), Middle and outer toes joined for half 
; their length. (Kingfishers.) 
(b3). Middle and outer toes not joined. 
(a4). Feet and bill very small and weak. 
(b4). Bill long and very slender. (//um- 
mingbirds.) 
(c4). Characters various, but not combined 
as above. 
15. PYGOPODES. 
13. STEGANOPODES. 
14. TUBINARES 
12. ANSERES. 
11. LONGIPENNES. 
10. LIMICOLA®. 
1s. PYGOPODES. 
8 PALUDICOL. 
10. LIMICOL A. 
9. HERODIONES. 
8. PALUDICOL. 
ro. LIMICOLA. 
8. PALUDICOL. 
10. LIMICOLAE. 
7. GALLINZE. 
6. COLUMB2E. 
5. RAPTORES. 
3. PICI. 
4. COCCYGES. 
4- COCCYGES. 
2. MACROCHIRES. 
2. MACROCHIRES. 
1. PASSERES. 
