42 BIRDS, 



b. Bill tenuirostral, very slender, much longer than head ; secon- 

 daries very short, 6 in number ; plumage compact. 



TROCHILID^E, 39. 

 bb. Bill flssirostral, much shorter than head ; secondaries more 



than 6. 



c. Rictal bristles present; middle claw pectinate; plumage 

 lax, variegated ; length 8 or more. CAPRIMULGID^E, 37. 

 cc. No rictal bristles ; plumage compact, of blended colors ; 

 tail leathers (in ours) spiuous ; length 6 or less. 



CYPSELID^E, 38. 



I. FAMILIES OF PSITTACI. 



1. Cere feathered, concealing the nostrils; plumage coarse and 

 dry, chiefly green ARID^E, 43. 



J. FAMILIES OF RAPTORES. 



I. Hind toe on a level with the rest, more than half length of 



outer toe, and with a large claw; claws strong, sharp, much 

 curved; nostrils iinperforate ; head mostly feathered; bill 

 strongly hooked. 



a. Eyes directed forwards in consequence of the great lateral 



expansion of the cranium, and surrounded by a disk of 



radiating bristly feathers, . . . STRIGID^E, 44. 



aa. Eyes lateral ; no complete facial disk. . FALCONID^E, 45. 



II. Hind toe elevated, not more than half length of outer toe; 



claws weak and little curved ; nostrils perforate ; head mostly 

 naked ; bill little hooked. . . . CATHARTID/E, 46. 



K. FAMILIES OF COLUMB.E. 



I. Head small, feathered (except sometimes a circumorbital ring); 

 feathers loosely inserted, . . . COLUMBHXE, 47. 



L. FAMILIES OF GALLING. 



I. Head unfeathered, with wattles and caruncles ; a tuft of bristly 

 feathers on breast ; tarsus spurred in $ plumage iridescent ; 

 large, 36 or more MELEAGRTD^E, 48. 



IL Head feathered , plumage not iridescent ; size much smaller, 



