SYNOPSIS 



OF 



NORTH AMERICAN ORDERS OF WATER BIRDS. 



A. Legs leiigthenetl, the tibice usually tlemuled for a consideraljle distance above the knee. Toes 



not fully ^\■ebbed, except in Recurvirostra and Phwnicopterus. (Waders.) 



I. HERODIONES. Neck and legs much lengthened. Hind toe much lengthened, and 

 inserted at the same level as the anterior toes (shorter and slightly elevated in Ciconiidce) . 

 Habits altricial' and young dasypsedic- Palate desmognathous. Carotids double. 



II. LIMICOL.3!. Neck and legs usiially elongated (the latter sometimes e.xcessively so), 

 the tibiae usually more or less naked below. Hind toe short or rudimentary, sometimes 

 absent, and inserted above the level of the anterior toes. Habits prsecocial,' and young 

 dasypsedic. Palate schizognathous. Carotids double. 



III. ALECTORIDES. Hind toe small and elevated (but neck much lengthened and bill 



strung and hard) in Gruidrp ; lengthened and incumbent in Aramidiv and Rallidte. 

 "Wings comparatively short and I'ounded, and bod)' compressed (except in Gnddcc). 

 Habits pnecocial, and young dasypa;dic. Palate schizognathous. Carotids double. 



IV. PHCENICOPTERI. Neck and legs excessively elongated, the anterior toes webbed, 



and the tibia; naked for the greater part of their length. Hind toe small and elevated, 

 or wholl}' absent. Bill of very peculiar form, being greatly thickened and abruptly 

 bent downward from the middle portion, the tomia provided with lamella;, as in the 

 Anseres. Habits prrecocial and young dasyp;udic. Palate saurognathous. Carotids 

 double, but the left much reduced in size. 



B. Legs short, the tibiae wholly or mostly feathered. Anterior toes distinctly (usually fully) 



wi-1)bed, iir else broadly lolled and provided with broad flat nails (_Podicipid(e) . 

 (Siwimmers.) 



V. ANSERES. Bill broad and depressed (nearly cylindrical in Mcnjinm), the tip provided 

 with a distinct nail or unguis, ami the tomia with vertical lamellre or strainers (more 

 tooth-like in Minjime). Habits prajcocial, young dasypredic. Palate saurognathous. 

 Carotids double. 



^ Altricial birds are those whose young are hatchi-d in a blind and helpless condition, and are reared in 

 the nest until .able to fly. 



2 Young birds whicli are covered with down when hatched are said to be dnsypffidic ; e. g., chicks of the 

 Domestic Fowl and other gallinaceous birds, ducklings, etc. 



5 Prjecocial birds arc those whose young are capable of rnniung about as soon as hatched, and although 

 led and othern-ise cared for by the parents, .are not led by them ; e. g., the young of the Domestic Fowl 

 Ducks, Geese, etc. 



