viii CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE NINE- 

 TIETH MERIDIAN 41 



KEY TO ORDERS AND FAMILIES 41 



I. ORDER PYGOPODES : Diving Birds 56 



1. Family Podicipidaa : Grebes 56 



2. Family Urinatoridae : Loons 58 



3. Family Alcidae : Auks, Murres, and Puffins . . 60 



II. ORDER LONGIPENNES: LONG-WINGED SWIMMERS . . 65 



4. Family Stercorariidae : Skuas and Jaegers . . . . 65 



5. Family Laridae : Gulls and Terns . . . .67 



6. Rynchopidae : Skimmers 85 



III. ORDER TUBINARES : TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS . . .86 



7. Family Diomedeidae : Albatrosses . . . .86 



8. Procellariidae : Petrels, Fulmars, and Shearwaters . 86 



IV. ORDER STEGANOPODES : TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS . . 91 



9. Family Phaethontida? : Tropic Birds. . . .91 



10. Family Sulidae : Gannets 92 



11. Family Anhingidae: Darters ..... 93 



12. Family Phalacrocoracidae : Cormorants . . .94 



13. Family Pelecanidae: Pelicans 95 



14. Family Fregatidas : Man-o'-War Birds . .97 



V. ORDER ANSERES: LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS . . 97 



15. Family Anatidse : Ducks, Geese, and Swans . . 97 



VI. ORDER ODONTOGLOSS^E : LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES . 125 



16. Family PhoenicopteridaB : Flamingoes . . . 125 



VII. ORDER HERODIONES : HERONS, STORKS, IBISES, ETC. . . 125 



17. Family Plataleidae : Spoonbills 125 



18. Family Ibijlidae : Ibises . . . . . .126 



19. Family Ciconiidae : Storks and Wood Ibises . . 127 



20. Family Ardeidae : Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns . 128 



VIII. ORDER PALUDICOL^E: CRANES, RAILS, ETC. . . . 137 



21. Family Gruidae : Cranes 137 



22. Family Aramida3 : Courlans 138 



23. Family Rallidae: Rails, Gallinules, and Coots . . 139 



IX. ORDER LIMICOL.E: SHORE BIRDS ...... 147 



24. Family Phalaropodidae : Phalaropes . . . . 147 



25. Family Recurvirostrida3 : Stilts and Avocets . . 149 



26. Family Scolopacida^ : Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. . . 150 



