EXPLANATION OF KEYS AND DESCRIPTIONS 15 



2. Hind toe connected by web with the inner one of the front toes, the front toes 

 also well webbed. Steganopodes Gannets, Cormorants, Pelicans, etc. 



2. Hind toe not connected with the front ones by web. See 3. 



3. Bill lamellate, its cutting edges fringed or serrated. Anseres Ducks, Geese, 



and Swans. 



3. Bill not lamellate. See 4. 



4. Legs inserted far behind middle of the body, which in a standing position is 



nearly upright. Pygopodes Grebes, Loons, and Auks. 



4. Legs inserted about the middle of the body, which in standing position is nearly 



horizontal. See 5. 



5. Nostrils tubular. Tubinares Albatrosses, Petrels, and Fulmars. 



5. Nostrils not tubular. Longipennes Jaegers, Gulls, and Terns. 



6. Waders. Tibia more or less naked below, the tarsus more or less elongate. 



See 7. 



6. Land Birds. Tibia usually entirely feathered, tarsus of moderate length. 



See 9. 



7. Hind toe well developed, and usually inserted on same level as rest; the loral 



or orbital regions, or both, sometimes the whole head, bare of feathers. 

 Herodiones Herons, Storks, and Ibises. 



7. Hind toe, if present, small and inserted above level of rest; or, if not, length of 



bird less than 36 inches. Loral and orbital regions feathered, and middle 

 claw not pectinate. See 8. 



8. Length of bird 24 inches or less; hind toe, if present, short and elevated. Limi- 



colce Phalaropes, Snipes, and Plovers. 



8. If length of bird is less than 36 inches, the hind toe is inserted on same level 



as the rest; if over 36 inches in length, the hind toe is short and elevated. 

 Paludicoloe Cranes, Rails, and Gallinules. 



9. Bill strongly hooked, with a distinct cere at base. See 10. 



9. Bill not strongly hooked, or, if so, without a naked cere at base of upper man- 

 dible. See 11. 



10. Toes three in front, one behind, the outer toe sometimes reversible. Raptores 

 Vultures, Hawks, and Owls. 



10. Toes two in front, two behind. Psittaci Parrots. 



11. Hind toe short, decidedly elevated; toes webbed at base; no soft skin about 



nostrils. Gallince Turkeys, Grouse, and Bob-whites. 



11. Hind toe on about the same level as rest. See 12. 



12. Nostrils opening beneath a soft, swollen, cere-like membrane. Hind claw short. 



Columbce Pigeons and Doves. 



12. Nostrils not opening beneath a swollen membrane or cere. See 13. 



13. Tail feathers stiff and pointed; bill chisel-like and front toes two only. Pici 



Woodpeckers. 



13. Not with the preceding combination of characters. See 14. 



14. Toes two in front, or else outer and middle toes connected for half their length. 



Gape not deep. Tail-feathers soft. Coccyges Cuckoos, Kingfishers, etc. 



