INDEX TO THE FAMILIES AND SUB-FAMILIES. 63 



CharadriiDjE (range 6 in. to 16 in.). 



I. — Three toes, united near base ; bill longer or shorter than head, 

 and not dilated at point. Genera, Cursorius, Eudromias, 

 Charadrius, ^gialitis, and Hcsmatopus j the Courser, Dotterel, 

 Plovers (except the Grey Plover), and the Oystercatcher. 292- 



295. 297-300, 303. 



II. — Four toes, three of them united near the base. Genera, 

 Squaiarola, Strepsilas, and Vanellus; the Grey Plover, which has 

 a vifhite tail with broad black and brown bars ; the Turnstone, 

 which has orange legs ; and the Lapwing, which has a crest. 



296, 302, 301. 



CiconiiDjE (range 39 in. to 44 in.) — four toes, three of them united 



no further than the first joint ; long legs ; long bill ; over 30 



remiges. Genus, Ciconiaj the Storks. 212, 213. 

 CiNCLiN/E — sub-family of Passefidse (range 6 in. to 6^ in.) ; two toes 



united ; dense, fibrous blackish plumage ; white throat ; concave 



wings. The only passerine birds with down. Genus, Cinches ; the 



Dippers. 47, 48. 

 ColumbiDjE (range 11 in. to 17 in.) — four toes, three in front, divided 



throughout ; bill deflected, thinnest in middle, expanding towards 



point ; nostrils in soft skin at base of bill ; no down ; feathers 



without aftershaft ; second primary longest. Genera, Columba, 



Turtur, and Ectopistes ; the Doves and Pigeons. 263-267. 

 CoLYMBlDiE (range 21 in. to 33 in.) — four toes, three of them united 



as far as the claws and one webbed to tarsus ; wings short ; bill 



compressed and pointed ; tail very short and rounded. Genus, 



Colymbusj the Divers. 380-383. 

 Coraciid^ (range 11 in. to 12 in.) — four toes, three in front divided 



throughout ; bill compressed ; upper mandible decurved at tip ; 



23 remiges ; tarsus scutellate in front, reticulate at back. Genus, 



Coraciasj the Roller. 153. 

 CorviNjE — sub-family of Passeridas (range 14 in. to 24 in.) ; remiges 



19 to 22 ; first primary quite half as long as second, fifth arid sixth 



longest, first four graduated ; plumage close and glossy ; two toes 



united. Genera, Pyrrhocorax, Nucifraga, Garrulus, Pica, and 



Coniusj the Chough, Nutcracker, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, 



Rook, and Raven. 122-131. 

 CuculiDjE (range 12 in. to 17 in.) — four toes, divided throughout, 



two in front and two behind ; bill short or moderate. Genera. 



Cuculus, Coccysies, and Coccyzusj the Cuckoos. 157-160. 

 Cypselid^ ("range 7 in. to Z\ in.). 



I. — Four toes, divided throughout, all in front ; remiges i8 ; 

 phalanges, 2, 3, 3, 3. Genus, Cypselusj the Swifts. 138, 139. 



II. — Four toes, divided throughout, three in front ; tail feathers 

 with sharp, protruding spines. Genus, Acanthyllis j the Needle- 

 tailed Swift. 140. 

 EMBERlziNiE — sub-family of Passeridae (range 4I in. to 7 in.) — first 



primary obsolete ; bill short and conical ; gape line angular ; 



knob on palate. Genera, Emberiza, Calcarius, and Plectrophanes ; 



the Buntings. 109-118. 

 FalcONIDjE (range 10 in. to 36 in.) — Birds of Prey ; bill strong, ' 



sharp, and curving, and with a cere at base ; claws powerful ; 



feathers on crown. Genera, Circus, Bitteo, Archibuieo, Aquila, 



