xxvi NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



• 



apprc'.«.«e<l bristles. Nostrils wholly in the core. Outer toe rarely versatile, 

 except Pandion, etc.; nut shorter than the inner. IJasal phalanx of middle 

 toe longer than the second. Legs connnonly naked and scutellate or reticu- 

 late in some portion of their length ; toes always bare and scaly. Plumage 

 compact, usually with after-shafts; flight audible. Cranial walls with little 

 diploc. Sternum connnonly single-notched or fenestrate, sometimes entire. 



Diiunal Fakonidce. 



Feet scarcely raptorial, with lengthened, little curved or contractile, weak, short 

 claws. Hallux elevated, shortened, not more than half as long as the fourth toe, 

 Avitli small claw. Front toes all wcbbcd at base: middle ti>e lengthened; outer 

 not reversible. Basal phalanx of midijle toe longer than either of the succeeding. 

 Nostrils perforate. Bill lengthened and comparatively weak, little hooked, con- 

 tracted in its continuity ; tomia not toothed or lolt«'d. Head naked of feathers 

 in greatest part ; si)arsely bristly. No lower larnyx developed. No C(eca. 

 After-shafts absent Cathartidce. 



Family of COLUMBiE. 



With characters essentially as in Cohimhai (exclusive of those peculiar to Di- 

 duncudidce and Didid(r). Plumage without after-shafts: the feathers with thick- 

 ened, spongy rhachis loosoly inserte<l in the skin. Head small, completely 

 feathered, excepting sometimes a cin-mnorltital >pace. Tarsi naked or only 

 feathered a little way above. Tail of twelve ti'athers. or Icngthenecl, cuneate. and 

 of fourteen. (Hallux not perfectly incumbent in Sf<irn(T)in>t.) . . , Cohmibidce. 



AxALV,«is OF Families or GALLINiE. 



Hind toe lengthened, insistent. Tail-feathers twelve. Sides of head and 

 throat with naked sjiaces. Color greenish ....... Cntcidce. 



Hind toe shortened, elevated. Tail-feathers usually Iburteen or more. No 

 green. 



Large. Tarsi, toes, an<l nasal fossic naked. Head bare of feathers, sparsely 

 bristly, with wattles and caruncles. A pectoral tuft of bristly feathers. 

 Tarsi usually spurred in the male. Plumage iridescent . . . MtJengrididcc. 



Medium. Tarsi wholly or in great part, sometimes also the toes, and always 

 the nasal fossa\ feathered. Head completely feathered, excepting a definite 

 papillate strip over the eye. Tail-feathers sixteen or more. Sides of neck 

 usually with lengthened feathers, or a naked distensible area, or both. No 

 s{)urs. Plumage without iridescence ....... Tetraonidce. 



Small. Tarsi, toes, and nasal fossa> naked. Head completely feathered. 

 No ])eculiar feathers or tympanum on sides of neck. No spurs. Plumage 

 not iridescent Perdkida. 



Analysis of Families of LXMICOLiE. 



Toes not lobate. Tarsi not notably compiessed. 



Legs extremely long: the tarsus e(pialling or exceeding the tail, and feet 

 either four-toed and palmate (^RecurviroHtrd). or three-toed and semipal- 

 niatt' (Ilimautopxs); wiih the bill much longer than the head, very slender, 

 acute, and curved ujiward ........ Recurvirosirida. 



Legs moderate, stout. Tarsus shorter than tail. Bill hard, more or less 

 contracted at base, with short nasal fossa, gonydeal angle, and ascending 



