The Identification of Birds 147 
the eye; the shanks also have but a single row of scales down the front, and there are 
no webs at the base of the front toes. The hind-toe is very small and useless, and 
sometimes quite absent. The nostrils are oval, open, and situated at least as far forward 
as the centre of the beak, whereas in the Button-Quails, which much resemble small 
Tinamous, the nostrils are roofed and run back to the base of the beak, as in the Quails. 
The Bustards (Otidide) have long shanks, bare above the hock and covered all over 
with small scales (reticulate), and three short front toes only, united at the base by small 
webs. The bill is rather short, and the corner of the mouth comes as far back as the 
eye. The wings are large and powerful and the head small, though often thickly 
feathered and havmg a bushy appearance. 
The Quail-Snipes (Lhinocorythide) are birds much resembling Quails or small 
Partridges, with the long poimted wing of a Snipe. Their bills are partridge-like, but 
the corner of the mouth terminates below the forehead; the feet have three toes in 
front, and a small hind-toe, but there are no webs at the base of the front toes and 
the shank is covered all over with small scales. 
The Sand-Grouse (Pteroclide) are birds of pigeon-like form, with long pointed 
wings and grouse-like heads. Thew feet have three short toes in front; the hind- 
foe is very small or wantimg, and the shanks are feathered. Their long wings and 
the absence of the fringe of scales along the toes will distinguish them from true 
Grouse. 
The Seriemas (Cariamide) have a short curved bill with wide gape, short round 
wings and a long tail, and long legs, with three short front toes united by a web at 
the base, and a short hind-toe. They bear some resemblance to the Secretary-Bird, but 
the cere to the bill and the long wings easily distinguish the latter. 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
With hooked bills and strong talons, strong-winged, and preying on other animals or carrion. 
The Hawks (Falconide), including the Eagles and Old World Vultures. In these 
the nostrils are separated, as in most animals, by a partition or septwm im the middle; 
the mouth terminates below the eye and usually as far back as the middle thereof ; 
feet with a strong hind-toe set on at the same level as the rest, and the outer front 
tees united at the base by a short web. The Old World Vultures, which chiefly differ 
from Eagles in their more or less complete baldness, are often given separate family 
rank. The Osprey (Pandion haliaétus), which has no web at the base of the toes, is 
also frequently placed in a separate family. (Fig. 12.) 
The Secretary-Bird (Gypogeranus serpentarius) forms a family by itself; it much 
resembles an Hagle, but has very long legs with all the 
front toes united by a web at the base. 
The American Vultures (Cathartide), wmcluding the 
Condor, have the hind-toe small and almost useless, it 
being set on above the rest, and all the front toes con- 
nected by short webs; the nostrils are pervious, 7.e., have 
no partition, and the corner of the mouth terminates high 
up on a level with the eye, and usually far m front of it. Y 
The Owls (Strigid@) have the face usually surrounded toy 
by a ruff of feathers; there are no webs at the base of Z 
the toes, and the outer front toe is turned back when 
perching, so that the toes fall into pas. (Fig. 13.) 
The Barn-Owls (Strix) are sometimes separated as a 
family (Strigide); they may be distinguished from most Fig. 12, FALCON. 
