KEY TO THE BIRDS. 



PAGE 



Off-shore Water Birds, flying morb frequently than 

 swimming. Feeding about Bars, Lighthouses, and in 

 the Trough of the Sea, also diving for Food. Hooked 

 Bills, Long Wings. Tails Forked or Straight. Large, 

 Strong, Webbed Feet 304 



Stout-bodied Diving Birds of Fresh and Salt Water ; 

 Legs set vert far back, Short Tails, Long Necks 

 Crested or not Crested ; Plumage Various. Bodies 

 held upright owing to Position of the Legs, moving 

 awkwardly on Land, but swimming and flying with 

 Great Ease 305 



A. WOOD DOVES, WITH DELICATELY SHADED AND 

 OFTEN GLOSSY PLUMAGE, ETC. 



1. Upper parts bluish gray ; reddish brown below, fading to whitish 



toward vent. Wings dark, with a few spots ; tail quills dark 

 blue at the base and white at tips. Bill black ; feet lake-red. 



Passenger Pigeon. See page 235. 



2. General colouring bluish fawn. Above olive-brown, varying to 



bluish gray ; neck and head washed with metallic tints. Below 



a dull purplish, changing to reddish brown. Bill black ; feet 



lake-red. 



Mourning Dove. See page 286 



B. BIRDS WITH MOTTLED FEATHERS, ETC. 

 (Seen Scratching on the Ground like Barnyard Fowls.) 



1. Crown slightly crested. White forehead, eye line, and throat 



patch, edged with dark. Above variegated reddish brown. 

 Below whitish, warming on the sides to reddish, with dark 

 bars. Bill rusty black ; legs not feathered. 



Bob-white. See page 287. 



2. Slightly crested head, yellowish eye stripe, and neck mottled with 



reddish and dusky brown. Back variegated chestnut ; lower 

 parts lighter, with dark bars. Long tail, which spreads fan- 

 like. Neck ruff of dark feathers ; feathered legs. 



Buffed Grouse. See page 229. 



300 



