KEY TO FAMILIES. 



THE LAND BIKDS. 



Order X. Gallinse. TURKEYS, GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, etc. 



Toes four, the hind one small and elevated 



- above the front ones ; bill generally short, stout, 



hard, and horny ; wings rather short, the outer 



primaries curved and much stiffened. 



A. Size very large. . . . Subfamily Meleag- 



rince : TURKEYS, p. 186. 

 E. Size smaller. . . . Family Tetraonidce : 



GROUSE, BOB-WHITES, etc. (Fig. 27), p. 178. FIG. 27. 



Order XI. Columbae. PIGEONS and DOVES. 

 Toes four, all on the same level, the hind one 

 about as long as the shortest front one; bill 

 rather slender, deeply grooved, the nostrils open- 

 ing in a soft, fleshy membrane or skin. . . . 

 Family Columbidce : PIGEONS and DOVES (Fig. 

 , p. 187. 



FIG. 28. 



FIG. 29. 



Order XII. Raptores. VULTURES, HAWKS, and OWLS. 



Toes four, three in front, the hind one, except in the Vultures, generally 

 as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; all the toes armed with 

 strong, sharp, curved nails or talons ; bill with a cere, or covering of 

 skin, at its base, through which the nostrils open, very stout and strong, 

 the tip of the upper mandible with a sharply pointed hook. 



FIG. 31. 



A. Eyes set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus generally feathered ; plum 

 age soft and fluffy. 



