778 



COMPENDIUM OF GENERIC DISTINCTIONS. 



Sub-family. Struthioninse. — Bill broad, flattened, rounded 

 in front. Toes, second or third directed forwards. 



Gemis. Struthio. — Bill, tijD overlapping lower mandible, 

 nostrils in broad membranous groove near middle. Wings 

 ■with long soft plumes. Tail of curved drooping feathers. 

 Claws short and flattened. Habitat — Africa. 



Genus. Rhea. — Bill, nostrils in membranous groove at 

 middle ; membrane extends over base of keel. Wings with 

 long soft feathers. Tail not visible. Claws strong and com- 

 pressed. Habitat — South America. 



Genus. Dromaius. — Bill sloping to tip, nostrils in front 

 of membranous groove. Wings and tail not visible. Habitat 

 ■ — New Holland. 



Genus. Casuarius. — Bill long, compressed, curved to 

 tip ; base of keel and head with elevated helmet ; neck 

 naked, and with two wattles. Wings, five rounded shafts, 

 no webs. Tail not visible. Toes long, inner with long 

 powerful claw. Habitat — New Guinea and Moluccas. 



Suh-family. Apteryginae. — Bill very long, slender, base 

 with liorny cere, tip overhanging lower mandible, nostrils 

 at tip. 



Genus. Apteryx. — Bill, sides grooved towards end, base 

 with long hairs. Wings very short, and covered with long 

 feathers. Hind toe very short, with long, strong, and sharp 

 claws. Habitat— New Zealand. 



Suh-family. Otidinse. — Bill compressed, tip scooped, 

 nostrils in large membranous groove, opening oval. Wings 

 moderate. Tail broad and rounded. Tarsi long ; toes and 

 claws short. 



Genus. Otis. — Bill, straight at base, then curved to tip ; 

 nostrils partly closed by membrane. Wings, second to 

 fourth quills longest, tertials long as quills. Inner toe 

 shorter than outer. Habitat — Eurojae and Asia. 



Order. GRALL>E. — Tarsi long, rounded, slender ; thighs 

 naked at lower part. 



Family. CHARADRIADJE.— Bill short, weak at base, 

 strong at tip ; nostrils in deep longitudinal groove. Hind 

 toe wanting, or small and set high. 



Subfamily. (Edicneminse. — Bill long as head, keel of 

 lower mandible angulated. Three toes in front. 



Genus. ffiniCNEMUS. — Bill, nasal groove nearly triangular. 

 Wings, second quill longest. Tail wedge-shaped. Tarsi 

 with hexagonal scales. Toes united at base. Habitat — 

 Most parts of world. 



Subfamily. Glareolinae. — BUI short, broad at base, com- 

 jiiesoed to tip. Wings very long, first quill longest, three 

 toes in front, one behind. 



Genus. Glareola. — Bill flattened at base, arched to tip. 

 Wings, first quill longest. Tail forked. Legs moderate, 

 hind toe very short, claws of middle toe slightly toothed on 

 one side. Habitat — Old World. 



Subfamily. Cursorinae. — Bill moderate, arched beyond 

 nostrils, which are in short triangular groove. Wings long 

 and pointed. Three slender toes in front. 



Genus. CURSORIUS. — Bill broad at base, compressed to 

 tip, straight above, and then arched ; nostrils narrow. 

 Wings, first and second quills longest. Tail short and even. 

 Habitat — Asia, Africa, and Europe. 



Subfamily. Charadrinae. — Bill slender, flattened at base, 

 vaulted at tip, sides co'mi^ressed and grooved ; nostrils in 

 groove. Wings long and pointed. Tail broad. Tarsi long 

 and slender. Outer toe longer than inner. 



Gejius. Vanellus. — Bill straight, sides grooved two- 

 tliirds of length. Wings, second and third quills longest. 

 Thigh sometimes feathered to knee. Four toes, hind toe 

 short. Habitat — Europe, Asia, and America. 



Genus. Charadrius. — Bill short, strong ; groove of 

 upper mandible for two-thirds of length. Wings, first quill 

 longest. Hind toe wanting. Habitat — Most parts of 

 world. 



Suhfamily. HsjmatopodiiiBe. — Bill long, strong, front 

 half very much compressed, tip blunt ; nostrils in mem- 

 branous groove. Wings long and, pointed. Toes three, 

 united at base. 



Genus. H^Matopus.- — Bill, groove reaching nearly to 

 middle. Wings, first quill longest. Habitat — Old and New 

 World. 



Subfamily. Cinclinse. — Bill short, straight, compressed 

 to tip ; nostrils in membranous groove. Wings long, first 

 quill longest. Tarsi short, with small scales. Toes long 

 and free, hind toe slender. 



Genus. CiNCLUS. — Bill flattened at base, straight above, 

 edges curved upwards to tip ; groove extends half length of 

 upper mandible. Tarsi with broad scales. Hind toe ele- 

 vated, tip touching ground. Habitat — Most parts of world. 



Family. AIIDEID.S1. — Bill long, sharp, compressed. Tail 

 rounded. Tarsi long and slender. Outer toe longer than 

 inner, united at base. 



Subfamily. Psophinae — Bill vaulted towards tip, which 

 overhangs lower mandible ; nostrils in membranous groove 

 reached by plumes. Hind toe short. 



Genus. Psophia. — Bill short, curved. Wings, fourth to 

 sixth quills longest. Tail very short. Tarsi with transverse 

 scales. Outer toe longer than inner ; claws long, compressed, 

 sharp. Habitat — South America. 



Genus. Cabiama. Bill strong, curved ; nostrils in front 

 of plumed groove. Wings, fifth to seventh quills longest, 

 first very short. Tail long. Tarsi very long. Habitat — 

 South America. 



Subfamily. Gruinae Bill long, mandibles equal ; nos- 

 trils in deep groove. Wings and tertials long. Tail short 

 and even. Tarsi very long, toes short. 



Genus. Grus. — Bill slightly flattened at base, and curved 

 to tip ; nostrils large and partly hidden by membrane. 

 Wings, third and fourth quills longest. Tarsi with trans- 

 verse scales. Outer toe united at base, hind toe very short v 

 Habitat — Many parts of world. 



Genus. Scops. — Bill, nostrils very narrow. Wings, third 

 and fourth quills longest. Habitat — Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa. 



Genus. Balearica Bill rather short and thick. Wings, 



third quill longest. Cheeks naked, wattles on base of bill 

 and throat. Habitat — Africa and Islands of Mediterranean. 



Subfamily. Ardeinae. — Bill long, sharp, gape extending 

 beneath the eyes ; nostrils in lateral groove. Wings long. 

 Tail short and even. Tarsi and toes long and slender. 



Gemts. Ardea. — Bill slender, tip scooped, edges some- 

 times notched, nostrils guarded by membranous scale. 

 Wings, second and third quills longest. Tarsi with trans- 

 verse scales. Outer toe longer than inner. Habitat — Most 

 parts of world. 



Genus. Botaurus. — Bill rounded, tip deeply scooped, 

 nostrils narrow, near base. Wings, first to third quills 

 longest. Habitat — Many parts of world. 



Genus. Ntcticorax. — Bill, nostrils closed by mem- 

 branous scale. Wings, second and third quills longest. 

 Tarsi irregularly scaled. Habitat— Many parts of world. 



Genus. Cancroma. — Bill long, veiy broad towards 

 middle, sides comjiressed to tip. Keel very large and 

 grooved to tip, which is hooked ; nostrils partly closed by 

 membrane. Wings, third and fourth quills longest. Tarsi 

 irregularly scaled ; hind toe long. Habitat — South America. 



Genus. Platalea. — Bill straight, flattened and widenec" 

 at tip, upper mandible overhanging lower, groove commenc- 

 ing on forehead. Wings, second quill longest. Tarsi with 

 netted scales. Habitat^Many parts of world. 



Subfamily. Ciconinse. — Bill long, compressed to tip ; 

 nostrils narrow, pierced through beak. Wings large. Tail 

 moderate. Tarsi long ; front toes united at base. 



Genus. Ciconia. — Bill, keel bold and straight. Wings, 

 third and fourth quills longest. Tarsi with netted scales, 

 hind toe elevated, touching ground. Habitat — Europe, 

 Asia, and Africa. 



Genus. Leptoptilus. — Bill vei-y large, high at base, keel 

 straight, nostrils small. Head and neck naked. Habitat — 

 India and Africa. 



