KEY TO FAMILIES. 



a. Middle toe-nail with a comblike edge. . . . Family Strigidce : BARN 

 OWLS (Fig. 30), p. 213. 



b. Middle toe-nuil without a comblike edge. . . . Family Bubonidae, : 

 HORNED OWLS, HOOT OWLS (Fig. 29, a), p. 213. 



FIG. 32. 



Fro. 33. 



B. Eyes not set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus mostly bare, plumage 

 firm and close. 



a. Plumage, in our species, black ; hind toe small, claws blunt ; bill 

 not sharply hooked; head generally bare. . . . Family Cathartid<E> 

 AMERICAN VULTURES (Fig. 32), p. 191. 



b. Hind toe generally as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; 

 toes armed with sharp, curved nails or talons ; bill with a sharp 

 hook, head not bare. . . . Family falcon idas: FALCONS, KITES, 

 HAWKS, EAGLES (Figs. 29, A, 33), etc., p. 193. 



Order XIII. Psittaci. 



PARROTS, PAROQUETS, etc. 

 Toes four, two in front and 

 two behind ; bill with a cere. 

 . . . Family Psittaoidce : PAR- 

 ROTS and PAROQUETS (Fig. 34), 

 p. 222. 



Fio. 34. 



Order XIV. Coccyges. CUCKOOS and 



KINGFISHERS. 



Toes four, the middle and outer ones 

 joined for half their length (Kingfishers), 

 or two in front and two behind (Cuckoos) ; 

 bill without a cere; tail-feathers not stiff 

 and pointed. 

 5 



