62 AVES. 



fleeted at the tip, furnished at the basal edge with strong 

 vibrissae directed forwards; gape extending beyond the 

 eyes : anterior toes connected by a membrane as far as the 

 first joint ; hind toe reversible : wings long ; first quill 

 shorter than the second, which is longest: tail rounded, or 

 forked. 



$ //. Feet not formed for grasping. 



ORDER III. RASORES. 



Bill short, or moderate, convex, often furnished with 

 a cere at the base ; upper mandible arched : wings 

 short : legs strong and muscular, adapted for walk- 

 ing : bind toe sometimes wanting ; when present, 

 generally articulated high on the tarsus: claws 

 robust, short, slightly curved, somewhat blunt. 



I. COLUMBID^E. Hind toe present, articulated 

 nearly on the same plane with the others : tarsi 

 without spurs : tail of twelve feathers. 



52. COLUMBA -Bill moderate, straight, compressed, 

 deflected at the tip; upper mandible covered at the base 

 with a soft tumid membrane, in which the nostrils are 

 situate : tarsi short, reticulated ; toes entirely divided. 



(1. COLUMBA.) Wings with the first quill shorter than the second, 

 which is longest : tail even : side toes equal. 



(2. ECTOPISTES.) Wings pointed ; two first quills equal, longer than 

 the third : tail long, and cuneated : side toes unequal ; the inner 

 one longest. 



* II. PHASIANID^] Hind toe present, elevated above 

 the others : tarsi generally armed with spurs : tail 

 of more than twelve feathers: head more or less 

 naked. 



*53. MELEAGRIS. Bill short and thick, furnished at the base 

 with an elongated, pendulous, fleshy appendage : head and neck naked ; 



