XXXIX. 



Wing over 3.50. 

 Bill over i inch. 

 Bill under i inch. 



198. Virginia Rail. 



199. Sora. 



Family 2. Gruidae. Cranes. 



The Cranes so closely resemble the Herons in general appearance that one is surprised to note 

 that they are really different. In habits they resemble the Herons in many particulars, but are more 

 often found away from water in the uplands. They nest on the ground instead of in trees, as most 

 of the Herons do. They can eat anything. 



I. Wing less than 19 inches. 



II. Wing over 21 inches. 

 A. Primaries black, rest of plumage white. 



B. Plumage brownish gray. 



206. Little Brown Crane. 



305. Whooping Crane. 

 207. Sandhill Crane. 



Order 10. HERODIONES. Bitterns, Herons, etc. 



Family i. Ardeidae. Bitterns, Herons, Egrets. 



All members of this family have long, sharply pointed bills, long legs and neck, and feed stand- 

 ing 'knee' deep in the water. The sharp bill is a formidable weapon of defense as well as offense, 

 while the long neck enables them to dart that weapon out with a lightning stroke. They feed upon 

 frogs and insects, and occasionally fish which find their way into the shallow water. 



I. Wing less than 6.00. 

 A. Under parts huffy. 



B. Under parts rufous-chestnut. 



II. Wing about 7.25. 



III. Wing 9 to II inches. 



A. General plumage tawny or 



streaked with darker. 



B. General plumage slaty-blue. 



C. General plumage white. 



1. Tips of primaries blue. 



2. Tips of primaries not blue. 

 tV. Wing over 11 inches. 



A. Wing about 12 inches. 



1. Crown black, not streaked. 



2. Crown streaked. 



B. Wing over 13 inches. 



1. Pure white. 



2. Upper parts bluish. 



209. Least Bittern. 



(Hypothetical) Cory L-^ast Bit= 

 tern. 

 214. Green Heron. 



umber-brown, evervwhere 



208. American Bittern. 

 213. Little Blue Heron. 



213. Little Blue Heron (im.) 

 212. Snowy Heron. 



215. Black=crowned Night Heron. 



215. Black=crowned Night Heron. 



(im.) 



211. American Egret. 

 210. Great Blue Heron. 



2. CicoNiiDAE. Wood Ibis. 



The Wood Ibis, the only member of this group found in Ohio, is of more southern distribution, 

 but sometimes wanders to the state. It resembks the Herons in habits. 



216. Wood Ibis. 



Family 3. Ibididae. Ibises. 



The Glossy Ibis is accidental- in Ohio, its home being well south. In its wanderings it rarely 

 enters regions of our latitude. 



217. Glossy Ibis. 



Order ii. LIMICOL^. Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers, etc. 

 Family i. Charadriidae. Plovers. 



The Plovers are short-billed shore birds, and therefore get their faod by gleaning from the sur- 

 face of the ground on the uplands or along shore. They have whistled calls which are somewhat 

 musical. 



I. Toes 4. 218. Black'^bellied Plover. 



II. Toes 3. 



A. Back streaked or spotted. 219. American Golden Plover. 



B. Back neither streaked nor spotted. 



1. Rump rufous. 



2. Rump not rufous. 



220. ICilldeer. 



