232 GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY. 
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(B.) Bill — curved up, extremely slender and acute(Avocet). . . . RECURVIROSTRIDE 609 
— bent abruptly down, very stout, lamellate (Flamingo) . . . . PHGNICOPTERIDZ 678 
—lamellate; mostly membranous, with nail at end (Swans, Geese, Ducks, &e.) ‘ . ANATIDAE 679 
— not lamellate; nostrils — tubular; hind toe very small (Petrels) . ‘ PROCELDARIIDA 7713 
— not tubular; hind toe — free, not lobed (Gulls and Terns). . LARIDa 133 
— not free, lobed (Loons) . . . COLYMBIDA 789 
(C.) Tail -- rudimentary; lores naked (Grebes) $ ‘ Fi PoprcrrepiDm 792 
— perfect; forehead — covered with a horny shield (Coots) i . RALLIDZ 669 
— feathered (Phalaropes). . . . PHALAROPODIDZ 612 
(D.) Mid-claw — pectinate; 4th toe 4-jointed; plumage lax (Goatsuckersy . an mn a CAPRMIULGIDZ 447 
— not pectinate; hind toe — versatile; plumage compact (Swifts) CYPSELID 455 
— not versatile; head — naked (go to b). 
— feathered (go to c). 
(b.) Nostrils — imperforate; naked leg and foot shorter than tail (Turkey). . . MELEAGRIDIDZ 576 
— perforate; naked leg and foot — shorter than tail (Turkey-buzzards) . CATHARTIDA® 557 
— longer than tail (Cranes) : . . . GROUIDE 666 
(e.) Nostrils — feathered, or scaled, in deep fossa of stout hard bill . . . TETRAONIDAE 576 
— not feathered nor scaled, in groove of softish bill; tarsus — reticulate (Plover) 
CHARADRIIDZ 597 
— scutellate in front (Snipe, &c.) 
(E.) Wing — spurred é . . PARRIDE 669 
— not spurred : forehead. — covered with a horny shield (Gallinules) . ads ; . RALLIDE 669 
— feathered; length —2feetor more... + . . . ARAMIDZD 667 
— under 2 feet; 1st primary — attenuate (Woodcock). . » SCOLOPACIDE 614 
— not attenuate — much shorter than 2d (Rails) 
RALLIDE 669 
— about equal to 2d (Snipe, &c.) ScoLopacipz 614 
or HZMATOPODID 606 
B. [The hind toe not elevated.] . 
TOES SYNDACTYLOUS; tibize naked below; bill straight, acute (Kingfishers) ie ALCEDINIDZE 468 
TIBILZ NAKED BELOW. (Go to d.) 
NOSTRILS OPENING BENEATH SOFT SWOLLEN MEMBRANE. (Go toe.) 
BILL HOOKED AND FURNISHED WITH A CERE. (Go to f.) 
BIRDS WITHOUT THE ABOVE CHARACTERS. (Go to g.) 
(d.) Middle claw — pectinate (Herons) . . ‘ ~ . . « . ARDEIDA 654 
— simple; tarsus — scutellate in front (Tbises) . x - IsIDIDz 648 
— reticulate; bill — flat, spoon-shaped (Spoonbill) . PLATALEID# 651 
— not flat, stout tapering (Wood Ibis) C1con1Ip# 652 
(e.) Bird over 18 inches long, greenish (Texan Guan) ca . CRACIDZ 572 
Birds under 18 inches long (Pigeons) : . COLUMBID 562 
(f.) Eyes — lateral, not surrounded by a disc; nostrils i in the cere ( Hawks, Eagles, &c.) . FALCONIDE 519 
or PANDIONIDA 556 
— anterior; face more or less disc-like; nostrils at edge of cere (Owls); middle claw — simple 
STRIGIDE 502 
— jagged 
ALUCONIDE 500 
(g-) PRIMARIE6 — 10; the Ist (never spurious) always more than 3 as long as longest (go to h). 
— 10; the ist (spurious or) at most not 3 as long as longest (go to i). 
— 9; the 1st (never spurious) of variable length (go to kk). 4 
(h.) Tail — 12- feathered; tarsal envelope irregular (Flycatchers) . . % . TYRANNIDE 428 
— 10-feathered; secondaries — only 6; bill subulate (Humming-birds) . . . TROCHILIDA 458 
— more than 6; bill small, very short (Swifts) . . CyPsELIDa 455 
{i.) Tarsus — “booted”; wings — shorter than tail, both much rounded; plumage very lax CHAMHID 262 
— longer than tail; tail—double-rounded. . . . . . AMPELIDA 325 
— not double-rounded (Thrushes, &c.) TURDIDZ 240 
— acutellate; nostrils — concealed ; bill — strongly epignathous, toothed and notched (Shrikes) 
LANIIDA 336 
— paragnathous;— over 7 inches long (Crows and 
Jays) Corvip 414 
—not7 inches ; bill — nearly = head 
(Nuthatches) SirTrpa: 269 
— scarcely or not 
} = head (Tits) PaRIDa 263 
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