KEY TO THE HIGHER ORDERS. 



a. All four toes united by a web or membrane .... (Page 13. ) Order Steganopodes. 

 aa. Hind toe, when present, not connected in any way with the other toes. 



b. Nostrils peculiarly tubular, and feet webbed .... (Page 10.) Order Ttlbinares. 

 bb. Nostrils not tubular, or feet not webbed. 



C. Feet webbed ; cutting edge of the bill dentate ; bill as in ducks, geese, etc. 



(Page 16.) Order Anseres. 

 CC. Cutting edge of the bill not fringed or dentate, or else feet not webbed. 



d. Toes distindlly webbed; legs inserted well forward towards the middle of 



the body, which is held horizontal (Page 5.) Order I/Ongipennes. 



dd. Toes not distindlly webbed, or else tarsus longer than the tail. 



e. Lower portion of thigh naked, or else bill long and with grooves ex- 

 tending along the sides. 



f. Lores naked; hind toe long and inserted on the same level with 



the middle toe (Page 20.) Order Herodiones. 



ff. Lores feathered; hind toe, when present, never exceeding the 

 length of the lower mandible. 



g. Hind toe longer; inserted on a level with middle toe (when long 



as the under mandible head with frontal shield) (Page 22. ) Order Paludicolse. 



gg. Hind toe shorter; if present, inserted more or less above the 



level of the middle toe (Page 24.) Order I/imacolae. 



ee. Lower portion of the thighs feathered; the bill, if lengthened, not 

 grooved along the sides. 



h. Bill strongly hooked, with a distinct naked cere at base of 



upper mandible (Page 32.) Order Raptores. 



hh. Bill not strongly hooked, and without naked cere at the 

 base of upper mandible ; or, if with a cere, it is soft and swollen in life. 



i. Hind toe small and elevated. 



(Page 30.) Order Gallinae. 

 ii. Hind toe always well developed and on the same level 

 with the middle one (mainly perching birds). 



j. With soft swollen cere at the base of upper mandible. 



(Page 31.) Order Columbse. 



jj. Without a soft swollen cere; toes, three in front, one 



behind, and on the same level ; not united by web, and tarsus equal to or longer than 



the hind toe with claw (Page 34. ) Order Passeres. 



[319] ' (63) 



