A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF 

 BRITISH BIRDS. 



KEY TO THE ORDERS. 



It must be understood that this " Key " is not a scientific 

 definition of the Orders, but that it appUes only to British birds. 

 It is intended as an aid to the beginner in placing a bird unknown 

 to him. 



Hind toe connected by a web with the 

 inner toe : 

 Steganopodes (Cormorants and Gannets) 



Hind toe not connected by a web with 

 the inner toe 2 



f Nostrils in one or two tubes, 

 no rictal bristles : 

 Tvbinares (Petrels, Shear- 

 waters, Albatroses) 



Nostrils not tubular or else 



(Goatsuckers) strong rictal 



(^ bristles present ... .3 



Gannet (Sida bassana). 



A. Fulmar Petrel (Fulmarus glacialis) . 



B. (from above). Manx Shearwater 



(Pu/finus puf/inus). 



