KEY TO FAMILIES. 



THE LAND BIRDS. 



Order X. Gallince. TURKEYS, GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, etc. 

 Toes four, the hind one small and elevated 

 above the front ones ; bill generally short, stout, 

 hard, and horny ; wings rather short, the outer 

 primaries curved and much stiffened. 



A. Size very large. . . . Subfamily MeUag- 

 rinat : TURKEYS, p. 186. 



B. Size smaller. . . . Family TetraoiiicUe : 

 GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, etc. (Fig. 27), p. 178. 



FIG. 27. 



Order XI. Columbia. PIGEONS and DOVES. 

 Toes four, all on the same level, the hind one 

 about as long as the shortest front one; bill 

 rather slender, deeply grooved, the nostrils open- 

 ing in a soft, fleshy membrane or skin. . . . 

 Family Columbida: PIGEONS and DOVES (Fig. 

 28), p. 187. 



FIG. 28. 



FIG. 29. 



Order XH. Raptores. VULTURES, HAWKS, and OWLS. 



Toes four, three in front, the hind one, except in the Vultures, generally 

 as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; all the toes armed with 

 strong, sharp, curved nails or talons ; bill with a cere, or covering of 

 skin, at its base, through which the nostrils open, very stout and strong, 

 the tip of the upper mandible with a sharply pointed hook. 



FIG. 30. 



FIG. 31. 



A, Eyes set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus generally feathered ; plum 

 age soft and fluffy. 



