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COMPENDIUM OF GENERIC DISTINCTIONS. 



Sub-family. Struthioninae. Bill Iroad, flattened, rounded 

 in front. Toes, second or third directed forwards. 



Genus. STEUTHIO. Bill, tip overlapping lower mandible, 

 nostrils in broad membranous groove near middle. Wings 

 with long soft plumes. Tail of c-irved drooping feathers. 

 Claws short and flattened. Habitat Africa. 



Genus. RHEA. Bill, nostrils in membranous groove at 

 middle ; membrane extends over base of keel. Wings witti 

 long soft feathers. Tail not visible. Claws strong and com- 

 pressed. Habitat South America. 



Genus. DROMAIUS. Bill sloping to tip, nostrils in front 

 of membranous groove. Wings and tail not Visible. Habitat 

 New Holland. 



Genus. CASUARIUS. Bill long, compressed, Curved to 

 tip ; base of keel and head with elevated helmet ; neck 

 naked, and with two wattles. Wings, five rounded shafts, 

 no webs. Tail not visible. Toes long, inner with long 

 powerful claw. Habitat New Guinea and Moluccas. 



Sub-family. Apteryginae. Bill very long, slender, baso 

 with horny cere, tip overhanging lower mandible, nostrils 

 at tip. 



Genus. APTEEYX. Bill, sides grooved towards end, b:*se 

 with long hairs. Wings very short, and covered with long 

 feathers. Hind toe very short, with long, strong, and sharp 

 claws. Habitat New Zealand. 



Sub-family. Otidinae. Bill compressed, tip scooped, 

 nostrils in large membranous groove, opening oval. Wings 

 moderate. Tail broad and rounded. Tarsi long ; toes and 

 claws short. 



Genus. OTIS. Bill, straight at base, then curved to tip ; 

 Uostrils partly closed by membrane. Wings, second to 

 fourth quills longest, tertials long as quills. Inner too 

 shorter than outer. Habitat Europe and Asia. 



Order. GRALL/E.-'-Tarsi long, rounded, slender ; thighs 

 naked at lower part. 



Family. CHABAfiRIAD-E. Bill short, weak at base, 

 strong at tip ; nostrils in deep longitudinal groove. Hind 

 toe wanting, or small and set high. 



Sub-family. (Edicneminae. Bill long as head, keel of 

 1'Ower mandible angulated. Three toes in front. 



Genus. (EoiCNEMUS. Bill, nasal groove nearly triangular. 

 Wings, second quill longest. Tail wedge-shaped. Tarsi 

 with hexagonal scales. Toes united at base. Habitat 

 Most parts of world. 



Sub-family. GlareolinfB. Bill short, broad at base, com- 

 pressed to tip. Wings very long, first quill longest, three 

 toes in front, one behind. 



Genus. GLAREOLA. Bill flattened at base, arched to tip. 

 Wings, first quill longest. Tail forked. Legs moderate, 

 hind toe very short, claws of middle toe slightly toothed on 

 one side. Habitat Old World. 



Sub-family. Cursorinse. Bill moderate, arched beyond 

 nostrils, which are in short triangular groove. Wings long 

 and pointed. Three slender toes in front. 



Genus. CURSORIUS. Bill broad at baso, compressed to 

 tip, straight above, and then arched ; nostrils narrow. 

 Wings, first and second quills longest. Tail short and even. 

 Habitat Asia, Africa, and Europe. 



Sub-family. Charadrinae. Bill slender, flattened at base, 

 vaulted at tip, sides compressed and grooved ; nostrils in 

 groove. Wings long and pointed. Tail broad. Tarsi long 

 and slender. Outer toe longer than inner. 



Genus. VANELLUS. Bill straight, sides grooved two- 

 thirds of length. Wings, second and third quills longest. 

 Thigh sometimes feathered to knee. Four toes, hind toe 

 short. Habitat- -Europe, Asia, and Ameiica. 



Genus. CHARADRIUS. Bill short, strong ; groove of 

 upper mandible for two-thirds of length. Wings, first quill 

 longest. Hind toe wanting. Habitat Most parts of 

 world. 



Sub-family. Hssmatopodinse. Bill long, strong, front 

 half very much compressed, tip blunt ; uostrils in mem- 

 branous groove. Wings long and pointed. Toes three, 

 united at base. 



Genus. H^EMATorus. Bill, groove reaching nearly to 

 middle. Wing\ first quill longest. Habitat Old and New 

 World. 



Sub-family. Cinclinse. Bill short, straight, compressed 

 to tip ; nostrils in membranous groove. Wings long, first 

 quill longest. Tarsi short, with small scales. Toes long 

 and free, hind toe slender. 



Genus. ClNCLUS. Bill flattened at base, straight above, 

 edges curved upwards to tip ; groove extends half length oi 

 upper mandible. Tarsi with broad scales. Hind toe ele- 

 vated, tip touching ground. Habitat Most parts of world. 



Family. ABDEIDJE. Bill long, sharp, compressed. Taii 

 rounded. Tarsi long and slender. Outer toe longer than 

 inner, united at base. 



Sub-family. Psophinse Bill vaulted towards tip, which 

 overhangs lower mandible ; nostrils in membranous groove 

 reached by plumes. Hind toe short. 



Genus. PsoPBlA. Bill short, curved. Wings, fourth to 

 sixth quills longest. Tail very short. Tarsi with transverse 

 scales. Outer toe longer than inner ; claws long, compressed, 

 sharp. Habitat South America. 



Genus. CARIAMA. Bill strong, curved ; nostrils in front 

 of plumed groove. Wings, fifth to seventh quills longest, 

 first very short. Tail long. Tarsi very long. Habitat 

 South America. 



Sub-family. Gruinae Bill long, mandibles equal ; nos- 

 trils in deep groove. Wings and tertials long. Tail short 

 and even. Tarsi very long, toes short. 



Genus. GutJS. Bill slightly flattened at base, and curved 

 to tip ; nostrils large and partly hidden by membrane. 

 Wings, third and fourth quills longest. Tarsi with trans- 

 verse scales. Outer toe united at base, hind toe very short , 

 Habitat Many parts of world. 



Gentts. SCOPS. Bill, nostrils very narrow. Wings, third 

 and fourth quills longest. Habitat Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa. 



Genus. BALEARICA Bill rather short and thick. Wings, 

 third quill longest. Cheeks naked, wattles on base of bill 

 and throat. Habitat Africa and Islands of Mediterranean. 



Sub-family. Ardeiii;. Bill long, sharp, gape extending 

 beneath the eyes ; nostrils in lateral groove. Wings long. 

 Tail short and even. Tarsi and toes long and slender. 



Genus. ATIDEA, Bill slender, tip scooped, edges some- 

 times notched, nostrils guarded by membranous scale. 

 Wings, second and third quills longest. Tarsi with trans- 

 verse scales. Outer toe longer than inner. Habitat Most 

 parts of world. 



Genus. BOTAURUS. Bill rounded, tip deepiy scooped, 

 nostrils narrow, near base. Wings, first to third quills 

 longest. Habitat Many parts of world. 



Genus. NYCTICORAX. Bill, nostrils closed by mem- 

 branous scale. Wings, second and third quills longest. 

 Tarsi irregularly scaled. Habitat Many parts of world. 



Genus. CANCROMA. Bill long, very broad towards 

 middle, sides compressed to tip. Keel very large and 

 grooved to tip, which is hooked ; nostrils partly closed by 

 membrane. Wings, third and fourth quills longest. Tarsi 

 irregularly scaled ; hind toe long. Habitat South America. 



Genus. PLATALEA. Bill straight, flattened and widened 

 at tip, upper mandible overhanging lower, groove commenc- 

 ing on forehead. Wings, second quill longest. Tarsi with 

 netted scales. Habitat Many parts of world. 



Sub-family. Ciconinse. Bill long, compressed to tip ; 

 nostrils nairow, pierced through beak. Wings large. Tail 

 moderate. Tarsi long ; front toes united at base. 



Genus. CICONIA. Bill, keel bold and straight. Wings, 

 third and fourth quills longest. Tarsi with netted scales, 

 hind toe elevated, touching ground. Habitat Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa. 



Genus. LEPTOPTILUS. Bill very large, high at base, keel 

 straight, nostrils small. Head and neck naked. Habitat 

 India and Africa. 



