NortH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
KEY TO THE HIGHER GROUPS. 
a’, Hind toe connected by web or membrane with the inner toe. 
Order Steganopodes. (Page 73.) 
~a*. Hind toe, if present, not connected with inner toe. 
b. Nostrils tubular and feet webbed............... Order Tubinares. (Page 50.) 
- 06°. Nostrils not tubular, or else feet not webbed. 
cl. Cutting-edgesof bill more or less distinctly fringed or dentate; feet webbed. 
d', Legs short, or but slightly lengthened; bill not abruptly bent 
downward from the middle......... Order Anseres. (Page 84.) 
ad. Legs excessively lengthened; bill bent abruptly downward from 
the middle............ceeceeeee Order Odontoglossz. (Page 121.) 
- ¢, Cutting-edges of bill not fringed nor dentate, or else feet not webbed. 
d', Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, which in standing 
position is more or less erect, the toes webbed or conspicuously 
TODO! cavaeevees dy sncionddeeenerees cess Order Pygopodes. (Page 4.) 
-d, Legs inserted near the middle of the body, which in standing posi- 
tion is nearly horizontal, or else toes not webbed. 
é. Anterior toes distinctly webbed, and tarsus shorter than tail. 
Order Longipennes. (Page 20.) 
. &, Anterior toes not distinctly webbed, or else tarsus decidedly 
longer than tail, or else bill extremely small, with gape 
very brvad and deeply cleft. 
f'. Lower portion of thighs naked ; or else bill lengthened and 
grooved along each side, the outer and middle toes sepa- 
rated for their entire length, and with three toes in front. 
g. Hind toe long and inserted at nearly same level with 
anterior toes, the claws never excessively length- 
ened; loral or orbital regions, or both (sometimes 
whole head), naked. 
Order Herodiones. (Page 122.) 
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