THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE 

 NINETIETH MERIDIAN. 



KEY TO ORDERS AND FAMILIES. 

 THE WATER BIRDS. 



Fia. 5. 



Order I. Pygopodes. GREBES, LOONS, and AUKS. 



Ducklike birds with generally sharply pointed bills ; feet webbed, placed 

 far back near the tail ; tarsus much flattened ; hind toe. when present, 

 with a lobe or flap ; bill without toothlike projections ; tail very short 

 and sometimes apparently wanting. 



A. Toes four, tipped with a broad nail. 



a. Toes with lobate webs. . . . Family Podicipidce: 

 GREBES (Fig. 5, a), p. 56. 



b. Toes webbed. . . . Family Urinatoridce : LOONS (Fig. 

 ^ 5, 6), p. 58. 



B. Toes three, tipped with a sharp nail. . . . Family 



Alcidce: AUKS, MURRES, and PUFFINS (Fig. 5, c), p. 60. 



Order II. Longipennes. JAEGERS, 



GULLS, and TERNS. 



Birds with sharply pointed and frequently 

 hooked or hawklike bills ; toes four (ex- 

 cept in one genus Itissa), the front ones 

 webbed ; wings long and pointed. 

 41 



FIG 6. 



