KEY TO FAMILIES. 



49 



: Baen 



a. Middle toe-nail with a oomblike edge. . . . Family Strigidi 

 Owls (Fig. 30), p. 213. 



b. Middle toe-nail without a oomblike edge. . . . Family Bubomdm 

 HoKNED Owls, Hoot Owls (Fig. 29, a), p. 213. 



Fio. 32. 



Fio. 33. 



B. Eyes not set in a striking facial disk ; tarsus mostly bare, plumage 

 firm and close. 



a. Plumage, in our species, black ; hind toe small, claws blunt ; bill 

 not sharply hooked ; head generally bare. . . . Family Cathartidce : 

 Amekican Vultures (Fig. 32), p. 191. 



b. Hind toe generally as long as or longer than the shortest front one ; 

 toes armed with sharp, curved nails or talons ; bill with a sharp 

 hook, head not bare. . . Family Fahonidm: Falcons, Kites, 

 Hawks, Eagles (Figs. 29, *, 38), etc., p. 193. 



Order xm. Fsittaci. — 



Pabkots, Paroquets, etc. 

 Toes four, two in front and 

 two behind ; bill with a cere. 

 . . . Family JPsittandw : Pae- 

 eots and Paeoquets (Fig. 34), 

 p. 222. 



Fia. 34. 



Order XTV. Coccyges. — Cuckoos and 

 Kingfishees. 

 Toes four, the middle and outer ones 

 joined for half their length (Kingfishers), 

 or two in front and two behind (Cuckoos) ; 

 bill without a cere; tail-feathers not stiif 

 and pointed. 



Fig. 36. 



