KEY TO FAMILIES. 



a. Middle toe-nail with a comblike edge. . . . Family Strigidae. : BARN 

 OWLS (Fig. 30), p. 213. 



b. Middle toe-nail without a comblike edge. . . . Family Jjubonidee : 

 HOKNED OWLS, HOOT OWLS (Fig. 29, a), p. 213. 



FIG. 32. 



FIG. 33. 



B. Eyes not set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus mostly bare, plumage 

 firm and close. 

 a. Plumage, in our species, black ; hind toe small, claws blunt ; bill 



not sharply hooked ; head generally bare. . . . Family Cathartidce : 



AMERICAN VULTURES (Fig. 32), p. 191. 

 6. Hind toe generally as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; 



toes armed with sharp, curved nails or talons ; bill with a sharp 



hook, head not bare. . . . Family Falconidce: FALCONS, KITES, 



HAWKS, EAGLES (Figs. 29, i, 33), etc., p. 193. 



Order Xm. Psittaci. 



PARROTS, PAROQUETS, etc. 

 Toes four, two in front and 

 two behind ; bill with a cere. 

 . . . Family Psittacidce : PAR- 

 ROTS and PAROQUETS (Fig. 34), 

 p. 222. 



FIG. 34. 



FIG. 35. 



Order XIV. Coccyges. CUCKOOS and 



KINGFISHERS. 



Toes four, the middle and outer ones 

 joined for half their length (Kingfishers), 

 or two in front and two behind (Cuckoos) ; 

 bill without a cere; tail-feathers not stiff 

 -> and pointed. 

 5 



FIG. 36. 



