BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



would, by its brown color, fall under the first division of "I," which would refer us 

 to "2," where the rough edge of the outermost wing quill would put it in the first 

 section and tell us it belonged to Stelgidopteryx. 



Following the description of each species, the range or territory over which it 

 occurs is given in all cases. Usually, however, reference is made only to the terri- 

 tory it occupies in eastern North America, for we should bear in mind that some 

 birds are as common perhaps in Europe or Asia as in America. For our purposes, 

 however, it has not been thought necessary to go into an exhaustive enumeration 

 of all the foreign countries in which each particular North Carolina species is found. 



Measurements. In the description of the birds given in this volume the word 

 "length" (L.) refers to the distance from the tip of the bill to the tip of tail. "Length 

 of wing" (W.) has reference to the distance from the last bend of the wing to the 

 tip of the longest wing-feather. The meaning of the other measurements will be 

 apparent to the student. 



30. Under tail-coverts 



31. Tarsus (shank) 



32. Inner (Hd) toe 



33. Middle (Hid) toe 



34. Outer (IVth) toe 



35. Hind (1st) toe 



25. Tail-quills 



(retrices) 



26. Breast 



27. Abdomen (belly) 



28. Leg (tibia and fibula) 



29. Vent (anal region) 



TOPOGRAPHY or A BIRD. 

 KEY TO THE ORDERS 



1. Swimmers. Feet palmate (full-webbed), or lobate; in the latter case with the 



claws broad, flat, and nail-like. See 2. 

 1. Feet not palmate (except in a few waders with very long legs), and never with 



the claws broad, flat, or nail-like. See 6. 



