lO HOW TO NAME THE BIRDS 



but no yellow nor red. Immediately below, these are 

 subdivided — " Nos. 231-238 : black throughout, or with 

 conspicuous black head-markings." It cannot be here. 

 The next subdivision says, '^ Nos. 239-242 : no evident 

 black on head." Not here. The next subdivision says, 

 ''Nos. 243-250: showing black and red, but no yellow." 

 It is not here. Therefore we turn to the next group, ac- 

 cording to direction — the Winter group — and we read : 

 "Nos. 187-194: showing black, but no yellow nor 

 red." As this accords, we turn to No. 187, and read 

 the summarized description of that and of succeeding 

 numbers. Going rapidly through the list, nothing agrees 

 until we reach '' 191 : Snow-bird: slaty black — black 

 and white." All the details agree perfectly, and, with 

 only the color to guide us, we have learned the name 

 and principal life-habits of the species. If all the details 

 of color (and in very many cases if only the principal 

 details) are noted, there is not a single species belonging 

 to the entire area that cannot be traced to its proper 

 number through this Key. And even if one has failed 

 to see some characteristic color that is inconspicuous, it 

 has been so arranged that he may proceed upon his false 

 assumption, and he will be led up to the same name as 

 though he had seen every detail. At first glance it 

 might seem that the amount of subdivision in the Key 

 would make it intricate and more difficult to^use. On 

 the contrary, it will be found to simplify rather than to 

 complicate the labor, by enabling one to trace every 

 name with the greatest possible directness. After its use 



