KEY TO THE BIRDS. 



PAGE 



H. OFF-SHORE WATER BIRDS, FLYING MORE FREQUENTLY THAN 

 SWIMMING. FEEDING ABOUT BARS, LIGHTHOUSES, AND IN 

 THE TROUGH OF THE SEA, ALSO DIVING FOR FOOD. HOOKED 

 BILLS, LONG WINGS. TAILS FORKED OR STRAIGHT. LARGE, 

 STRONG, WEBBED FEET 304 



I. STOUT-BODIED DIVING BIRDS OF FRESH AND SALT WATER ; 



LEGS SET VERY FAR BACK, SHORT TAILS, LONG NECKS 



CRESTED OR NOT CRESTED ; PLUMAGE VARIOUS. BODIES 

 HELD UPRIGHT OWING TO POSITION OF THE LEGS, MOVING 

 AWKWARDLY ON LAND, BUT SWIMMING AND FLYING WITH 

 GREAT EASE . . 305 



A. WOOD DOVES, WITH DELICATELY SHADED AND 

 OFTEN GLOSSY PLUMAGE, ETC. 



1. Upper parts bluish gray ; reddish brown below, fading to whitish 



toward vent. Wings dark, with a few spots ; tail quills dark 

 blue at the base and white at tips. Bill black ; feet lake-red. 



Passenger Pigeon. See page 225. 



2. General colouring bluish fawn. Above olive- brown, varying to 



bluish gray ; neck and head washed with metallic tints. Below 

 a dull purplish, changing to reddish brown. Bill black ; feet 

 lake-red. 



Mourning Dove. See page 226. 



B. BIRDS WITH MOTTLED FEATHERS, ETC. 

 (SEEN SCRATCHING ON THE GROUND LIKE BARNYARD FOWLS.) 



1. Crown slightly crested. White forehead, eye line, and throat 



patch, edged with dark. Above variegated reddish brown. 

 Below whitish, warming on the sides to reddish, with dark 

 bars. Bill rusty black ; legs not feathered. 



Bob-white. See page 227. 



2. Slightly crested head, yellowish eye stripe, and neck mottled with 



reddish and dusky brown. Back variegated chestnut ; lower 

 parts lighter, with dark bars. Long tail, which spreads fan- 

 like. Neck ruff of dark feathers ; feathered legs. 



Ruffed Grouse. See page 229. 



300 



