KEY TO BIRDS. 



ORDERS. 



a^. Hind toe well developed, all four toes connected by webs. 



STEGANOPODES. C 

 a^. Hind toe, if present, not connected with the others. 



bK Nostrils opening through tnbes. (Extralimital). TUBIXARES. 



6^. Nostrils noi opening through tubes. 



c^. Cutting edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed, notched or toothed. 

 d^. Legs short or slightly lengthened; bill not abruptly bent downward 

 from the middle. ANSERES. D 



d-. Legs excessively lengthened; bill bent abruptly downward from the 

 middle. (Extralimital.) ODONTOGLOSS.E. 



c^. Cutting edges of bill not fringed, notched, or toothed. 



e^. Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, which, in standing 

 position, is more or less erect: the toes webbed or conspicuously 

 lobed PYGOPODES. A. 



e^. Legs inserted near the middle of the body, which, in standing posi- 

 tion, is nearly horizontal, or else toes not webbed. 

 /"'. Anterior toes distinctly webbed, tarsus shorter than tail. 



LONGIPENNES. B 

 f^. Anterior toes not distinctly webbed (with rare exceptions); toes not 

 webbed, or webbed at base or on sides (full webbed only in a few 

 waders with very long tarsus and the tibia partly naked). 

 (/'.Tarsus more or less elongate; tibia more or less naked below. 

 Waders. 

 /;'. Hind toe well developed, inserted at same level with the anterior 

 • . toes ; the claws never excessively lengthened ; the space between 

 the eye and the bill or the space around the eye, or both (some- 

 times the whole head), naked. HERODIONES. E 

 //-. Hind toe, if present, small and inserted above the level of the 

 rest (or else size small or medium, length less than 36 inches); 

 the space between the bill and the eye or the space around the 

 eye fully feathered ; nocomb-like teeth on inner edge of middle 

 claw. 

 )'. Length over three feet. 



ji . Hind toe short and elevated. PA LU DICOL.E. F 



i'-. Length under three feet. 



/•'. Hind toe almost on level with other toes. 



PALUDICOL.E. F 

 /■-'. Hind toe, if present, short and elevated, or else claws 

 excessively lengthened and wings spurred. 



LIMICOL.E. G 



