>^ 



^ 



^ 



KEY TO FAMILIES. 



a. Middle toe-nail with a comblike edge. . . . 

 Owls (Fig. 30), p. 213. 



b. Middle toe-nuil without a comblike edge. 

 iloRNEU Owls, Hoot Owls (Fig. 29, a), p. 213, 



49 



Family Strigidm : Barn 

 . Family Bubonidce: 



Fig. 32, 



Fia. 33. 





rally 

 with 

 ig of 

 rong, 



£. Eyes not set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus mostly bare, plumage 

 firm and close. 



a. Plumage, in our species, black ; hind toe small, claws blunt ; bill 

 not sharply liookcd ; head generally bare. . . . Family Cathartidce. : 

 American Vultures (Fig. 32), p. 191. 



b. Hind toe generally as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; 

 toes armed with sharp, curved nails or talons; bill with a sharp 

 hook, head not bare. . . . Family Falconida: Falcons, Kites, 

 Hawks, Eagles (Figs. 29, i, 33), etc., p. 193. 



Order Xm. Paittaci.— 



Tarrots, Paroquets, etc. 

 Toes four, two in front and 

 two behind ; bill with a cere. 

 . . . Family Piiittacidih : Par- 

 rots and Paroquets (Fig. 34), 

 p. 222. 



Fio. 34. 





15 



um 



Order XIY. Coccyges.— Cuckoos and 

 Kingfishers. 

 Toes four, the middle and outer ones 

 joined for half their length (Kingfishers), 

 or two in front and two behind (Cuckoos) ; 

 bill without a cere; tail-feathers not stitf 

 and pointed. 

 6 



Fio. 36. 



