KEY TO BIRDS. 



ORDERS. 



/ a'. Hiud toe well developed, all four toes connected by webs. 



STEGANOPODES. C 

 A a'. Hind toe, if present, not connected with the others. 



6'. Nostrils opening through tubes. (Extralimital). TUBINAEES. 



b^. Nostrils noi opening through tubes.- 

 c^. Cutting edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed, notched or toothed. 

 d^. Legs short or slightly lengthened; bill not abruptly bent downward' 

 from the middle. ANSERES. D 



d}. Legs excessively lengthened; "bill bent abruptly downward from the 

 middle. (Extralimital.). ..-.^..-^ ODONTOGLOSSiE. 



c'. Cutting edges of bill not fringed, notched, or toothed. 



e^. Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, which, in standing 

 position, is more or less erect: the toes webbed or conspicuously 

 lobed. PYGOPODES. A 



e'. Legs inserted near the middle of the body, which, in standing posi- 

 tion, is nearly horizontal, or else toes not webbed. 

 f^ Anterior toes distinctly webbed, tarsus shorter than tail. 



LONGIPENNES. B 

 f^. Anterior toes not distinctly webbed (with rare exceptions) ; toes not 

 webbed, or webbed at base or on sides (full webbed only in a few 

 waders with very long tarsus and the tibia partly naked). 

 (/'.Tarsus more or less elongate; tibia more or less naked below. 

 Waders. 

 A'. Hind toe welldeveloped, inserted at same level with the anterior 

 toes ; the claws never excessively lengthened ; the space between 

 the eye and the bill or the space around the eye, or both (some- 

 times the whole head), naked. HERODIONES. E 

 A^. Hind toe, if present, small and inserted above the level of the 

 rest (or else size small or medium, length less than 36 inches); 

 the space between the bill and the eye or the space around the 

 eye fully feathered ; nocomb-like teeth on inner edge of middle 

 claw. 

 /'. Length over three feet. 



yi. Hind toe short and elevated. PALUDICOL.E. F 



i'^. Length under three feet. 



/.'. Hind toe almost on level with other toes. 



PALUDICOL^. F 

 /-. Hind toe, if present, short and elevated, or else claws 

 excessively lengthened and wings spurred. 



LIMICOLiE. G 



