Artificial key 



V,o'"^f6''^INGUISII THE 



LAND BIRDS AND WATER BIRDS. 



All l)inls having toes more or less webbed and no feathers 

 on the tarsus (all iutergradations between fiomes 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: — 



<-i;illiiiulcs. 



Rails. 



I.east Bitterns aiiii .Small Ilcroiis. 



MKMJK IJiKDs. — The majority of the Shore Birds eithci have the toes with small web, or 

 the bill over three inches long. Those which do not may l»e recognized by the following 

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

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

 equal to second. 



(jALLINULKS. — Itail-like birds, inhabiting marshy places; foreliead, covered by a horny 

 plate or sliidd. 



Rails. — Wing, rather short and inuiided; toes, long: liiiid to.', on level witli front toes 

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



Lka.st niTTKKXS AND SMALL IIkrons. — Toes, four; lores, bare: inner .-;ide of middle 

 toe nail, with comb-like edge. 



All other birds are called Land Birds. 



♦ Several Land Birds liavc tlie toe.-i partly webbed, such a.s tlie Goatsuckers, CaprlmiiU/itUi; the Vultures^, 

 CatharliitfK. ami a few otIiiMs; l>ut all have the tarsus more or loss feathered, except the Vultures, the only Land 

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



