THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA EAST OF THE 

 NINETIETH MERIDIAN. 



KEY TO ORDERS AND FAMIUES. 

 THE ■WATER BIRDS. 



Fio. 5. 



Order I. Pygopodes. — Geebes, Loons, and Auks. 



Duoklike birds with generally sharply pointed bills; feet webbed, placed 

 far bauk near the tail ; tarsus much flattened ; hind toe, when present, 

 with a lobe or flap; bill without toothlike projections; tail very short 

 and sometimes apparently wanting. 



A. Toes four, tipped with a broad nail. 



a. Toes with lobate webs. . . . Family Fodicipidce: 

 Grebes (Fig. 5, a), p. 56. 



b. Toes webbed. . . . Family Urinatorida,: LooNs (Fig. 

 5, 0), p. 58. 



B. Toes three, tipped with a sharp nail. . . . Family 



Alcidai: Auks, Murees, and Puffins (Fig. 5, c), p. 60. 



Order H. Iiongipennes. — Jaegers, 

 Gulls, and Terns. 

 Birds with sharply pointed and frequently 

 hooked or hawklike bills ; toes four (ex- 

 cept in one genus — Mssnt), tlie front ones 

 webbed ; wings long and pointed. 



41 



FiQ 6. 



