COMPENDIUM OF GENERIC DISTINCTIONS. 



77r 



Oenus. Mycteria. — Bill very large, tip turned up. 

 Wings, second and third quills longest. Habitat — South 

 America, Africa, and Australia. 



Oemis. Bal^Niceps. — Bill, sides enormously expanded, 

 keel widened and flattened, with two gi-ooves, edges over- 

 hanging lower mandible, tip deeply scooped and hooked, 

 nostrils at base in groove and oblique, gape beyond eyes. 

 Wings long. Toes very long and straight. 



Sicb-famili/. Tantalinse. — Bill long, slender, and cui-ved, 

 sides gradually compressed to tip. Wings long. Tail even. 

 Inner toe shorter than outer, hiud toe long. 



Gemis. Ibis. — Bill, nostrils narrow, in narrow groove ex- 

 tending throughout the biU. Wings, first and second quills 

 longest. Head partly bare. Habitat — Europe, Asia, and 

 America. 



Genus. Geronticus. — Wings, third and fourth quills 

 longest. Head and neck rather bare. Tarsi with hexagonal 

 scales. Habitat — Asia, Africa, America, and Australia. 



Family. SCOLOPACID.a;.— Bill long, slender, compressed 

 and grooved to tip ; nostrils in groove at base, closed by 

 membrane. Wings long and pointed. Tai-si long and 

 slender, hind toe short or absent. 



Suh-family. Limosinae. — Bill curved or straight from 

 base. " TaU mostly short and even. Toes long, united at 

 base. 



Genus. Numenius. — Bill curved from base, upper man- 

 dible projecting. Wings, fii-st quill longest. Tail short and 

 even. Tarsi with narrow transverse scales in front. Hind 

 toe slender, partly resting on ground. Habitat — Most parts 

 of world. 



Genus. LiMOSA. — Bill inclined upwards to tip. Wings, 

 first quill longest. Outer toe united to middle as far as first 

 joint. Habitat — Most parts of world. 



Sub-family. Totaninse. — Bill, groove as far as or beyond 

 middle of bill, nostrils very narrow. Hind toe rather long 

 and slender, barely reaching the ground. 



Genus. Totanus. — BiU slightly ciuT^ed at tip ; groove 

 half length of bill. Wings, first quill longest. Tarsi with 

 very narrow scales in front. Habitat — Both hemispheres. 



Genus. TRINGOIDES.^-Bill rather straight above, cun-ed 

 at tip ; groove extending nearly whole length of bill. Tail 

 rounded, broad. Habitat — Old and New Worlds. 



Sub-family. Recurvirostrinse. — Nostrils very narrow, 

 membranous. Tail short and rounded. Tarsi with netted 

 scales in front. Thigh naked above knee. 



Genus. Recurvirostra. — Bill, keel flattened at base. 

 Tarsi rather compressed ; toes united by indented web ; 

 hind toe very short. Habitat — Most parts of world. 



Genus. Himantopus. — Bill long and straight, opening 

 of nostrils long and narrow. Wings, first quill longest. 

 Toes united at base, hind toe wantmg. Habitat — Many 

 parts of the world. 



Subfamily. Tringinae. — Bill rather long, keel near tip, 

 rather flat and wide ; nostrils in groove, extending two-thirds 

 of bill. Toes united at base. 



Genus. Philomachus. — Bill straight. Wings, first and 

 second quills longest. Outer toe united as far as first joint, 

 inner free ; hind toe short and elevated. Habitat — Europe 

 and part of Asia. 



Genus. Tringa. — Wings, first quill longest. Toes edged 

 by membrane. Habitat — Many parts of world. 



Subfamily. Scolopacinae.— Bill straight, rather flattened 

 and bent downward at tip, which projects over lower man- 

 dible. Hind toe short, elevated, reaching ground. 



Genus. GallinaGO. — Nostrils oval. Wings, first and 

 second quills longe-st. Thigh bare a little above knee. 

 Claw of hind toe long and curved. Habitat — Most parts of 

 world. 



Genus. ScolopaX. — Nostrils narrow. Wings, fii'st quill 

 longest. Tarsi feathered below knee. Hind toe rather long 

 and elevated. Habitat — Old World. 



Suh-family. Phalaropodinse.— Bill straight, but curved 

 at tip. Tarsi short. Toes united at base and lobed on sides. 

 Hiud toe elevated, edged with narrow membrane. 



Genus. Phalaropus. — Bill long. Wings, first and second 

 quills longest. Toes united by membrane edging each toe. 

 Habitat — Northern and temperate regions. 



Family. PALAMEDEID.ff;.— Bill long and slender, 

 keel rather flat, vaulted at tip, which overhangs lower man- 

 dible. Nostrils at sides of bill and longitudinal. Wings 

 long, mostly spurred at shoulder. Tail short and round. 

 Tarsi long and slender. Toes very long. 



Subfamily. Parrinse. — Bill, tip not scooped ; groove 

 long and narrow, containing nostrils in middle. Toes with 

 long slender claws. 



Gemis. Parra. — Bill, sides compressed, nostrils small 

 and oval. Wings, third quill longest. Tail partly hidden 

 by coverts. Claws long, hind toe and claw very long. Base 

 of bill and part of head naked and wattled. Habitat — 

 Asia, Africa, and America. 



Genus. Hydrophasiantjs.— Wings very long, second 

 quill longest ; shaft of first three long, fourth to seventh 

 narrow and scooped. Tail narrow, lour central feathers 

 very long, rest short and graduated. Base of bill and head 

 fully feathered. Habitat — India. 



Subfamily. Palamedeinse. — Bill short, compressed, keel 

 curved to tip ; nostrils large, in membranous groove. Wings 

 with two spurs on shoulder. Tail moderate. Tarsi long, 

 strong, small scaled. Front toes united at base, claws long 

 and cuiTed. 



Genus. Palamedea. Nostrils oval. Head with cylin- 

 drical horn. Wings, third and fourth quills longest. Toes 

 with squared scales above. Habitat — South America. 



Genus. Chauna. — Bill, tip vaulted and hooked. Wings, 

 third and fourth quills longest. Habitat — Southern and 

 Central America. 



Family. EALLID.ffi.— Bill long, curved at tip, sides com- 

 pressed, nostrils in membranous groove. Wings moderate. 

 Tail rounded. Tarsi and toes long and slender. 



Subfamily. Rallinae. — Bill long and slender, keel bold, 

 sides compressed. Toes free at base. 



Genus. Rallus. — Bill curved from nostrils to tip, which 

 is slightly scooped ; nostrils in groove, extending two-thirds 

 the length of bill, opening narrow. Wings, second and 

 third quills longest. Hind toe short and slender. Habitat — 

 Many parts of world. 



Genus. Ortrtgometra. — Bill rather short, nostrils near 

 middle of groove. Wings, second and third quills longest. 

 Outer toe longer than inner, hinder toe very slender and 

 rather short. Habitat — Most parts of world. 



Suh-family. Gallinulinae. — Bill short, keel advancing on 

 forehead, sides compressed. Wings short and rounded. 

 Toes very long, slender, edged with membrane, hind toe 

 long. 



Genus. PoRPHTRlO. — Bill much elevated at base, which 

 is flat and broad on forehead ; nostrils in small groove. 

 Wings, second to fourth quills longest. Tarsi with broad 

 scales. Outer toe longer than inner ; claws long and 

 slender. 



Genus. Gallinula. — Bill suddenly cuiTed at tip, nostrils 

 near middle of bill in a groove. Wings, second to fourth 

 quills longest. Habitat — Many parts of world. 



Genus. Fulica. —Bill deep, keel straight, forming a flat- 

 tened shield on forehead, cvu'ved near tip. Wings, second 

 and third (juills longest. Toes much lobed, inner with two 

 lobes, middle with three, and outer with four. Habitat — 

 Most parts of world. 



Order. AN SERES. — Tarsi short, compressed, set far 

 back. Toes webbud. 



Family. ANATID.5:. — Bill flat, broad, laminated on 

 sides. 



Sub-family. Phcenicopterinffi. — Bill long, rather com- 

 pressed, suddenly bent downwards in middle. Tarsi very 

 long, thighs also long and naked. Toes short. 



