KEY TO ORDERS. 



a'. Toes four, all fully connected by web. Order Steganopodes. 

 a-. Toes four, hind toe not connedled with front ones; bill with 



cutting edge fringed or dentate Order Anseres. 



a^. Toes four, all on the same level; bill short, strongly hooked, 

 and with a cere at the base of the upper mandible. 



Order RaptoreS. 

 a-*. Toes three, or if four the hind one not connected by web with 

 the inner toe. 



b'. Nostrils tube-shaped, feet webbed Order Tubinares. 



b-. Nostrils not tubular, anterior toes webbed, tarsus shorter 



than the tail Order l^ongipetines. 



b^ Nostrils not tubular, anterior toes not broadly united by 



web, the lower portion of the thighs naked, or else the 



bill is lengthened and grooved along each side, outer 



and middle toes separate. 



C". Hind toe long and on the same level as the front 



toes, loral or orbital regions naked. 



Order Herodiones. 



C'. Hind toe short and on same level as front toes, or but 



slightly elevated ; if long as lower mandible there 



is a frontal shield present Order Paludicolse. 



C\ Hind toe short and below the level of the front toes. 



Order lyitnicolae. 



h^. Nostrils not tubular, the lower portion of the thighs 



feathered, or else the middle and outer toes are united 



for at least half their length. 



C^. Hind toe small and elevated, or else bill is without 



a soft cere, bill not hooked, short and stout. 



Order Gallinse. 

 C^ Hind toe well developed and on a level wdth the an- 

 terior toes, bill with a soft swollen cere at the base 



of the upper mandible Order Coluttlbse. 



c''. Bill without soft swollen cere. 



(i8) 



