THINGS TO REMEMBER 



Characteristics of Form or Habit That Will Determine 

 to What Order or Family Birds Belong. 



ORDER 1. DIVING BIRDS Pygopodes. 



GREBES; Colymbidae: Form, duck-like; bill point- 

 ed and never flattened; no tail; legs at extreme 

 end of body; each flattened toe with an individual web; 

 wings small. Flies rapidly, but patters along the water 

 before taking wing. Expert divers, using wings as 

 well as feet, to propel them, under water. 



LOONS. Family Gaviida?: Larger than Grebes; 

 bill long, heavy, and pointed; tail very short; feet 

 webbed like a duck's, but legs thin and deep; form 

 and habits, grebe-like. 



AUKS, MURRES, PUFFINS. Family Alcida?: 

 Bills very variable; tail short; usually takes flight 

 when alarmed, instead of diving as do grebes and loons. 

 With the exception of puffins, which stand on their 

 feet, all birds of this order sit upon their whole leg and 

 tail. They are awkward on land; some can hardly 

 walk. 



