ARTIFICIAL KEY 



TO DISTINGUISH THE 



LAND BIRDS AND WATER BIRDS. 



All birds having toes more or less webbed and no feathers 

 on the tarsus (all intergradations between figures A and B), 

 except the Vultures,* and also all birds having the bill more 

 than three inches long, whether the toes are webbed or not, are 

 Water Birds. There are also a few Water Birds which do not 

 agree with the above description, which may be described as 

 follows: 



. Rails. 



Least Bitterns and Small Herons. 



Gallinules. 



SHORE BIRDS. The majority of the Shore Birds either have the toes with small web, or 

 the bill over three inches long. Those which do not may be recognized by the following 

 characters: hind toe, when present, elevated above level of front toes: bill, rather soft; nos- 

 tril, a slit; lower portion of tibia (upper part of leg), not feathered; first primary, about 

 equal to second. 



GALLINULES. Rail-like birds, inhabiting marshy places; forehead, covered by a horny 

 plate or shield. 



RAILS. Wing, rather short and rounded; toes, long; hind -toe, on level with front toes 

 (true Rails) ; first primary, much shorter than second. 



LEAST BITTERNS AND SMALL HERONS. Toes, four; lores, bare; inner side of middle 

 toe nail, with comb-like edge. 



All other birds are called Land Birds. 



* Several Land Birds have the toes partly webbed, such as the Goatsuckers, Caprimulgidw, the Vultures, 

 Cathartidfe, and a few others; but all have the tarsus more or less feathered, except the Vultures, the only Land 

 Birds which have webbed toes, and no feathers on the tarsus. 



