CHAPTER IX. 



INDEX TO THE FAMILIES AND SUB-FAMILIES. 



IT is to be understood by the student that the particulars given 

 hereunder are not necessarily those on which the customary 

 ornithological classification is based, but simply such as happen to be 

 •nost useful for purposes of identification, and that only such points 

 are mentioned as are necessary for distinguishing the families and 

 sub-families from each other with regard to their representatives on 

 the British list. 



AccENTORlNvE — sub-family of Passerids (range 5 in. to 7^ in.) 

 — first primary less than half as long as second ; bill strong and 

 straight ; remiges ig ; tarsus scutellate ; two toes united. Genus, 

 Accentor; the Hedge Sparrow. 45, 46. 



ALAUDiNiE — sub-family of Passeridae (range 5 in. to ^\ in.) — first 

 primary very small ; remiges 19 or 20 ; tarsus scutellated back 

 and front. Genera, Alauda and Otocorysj the Larks. 132-137. 



Alcedinid^ (range 6J in. to 13 in.) — four toes, two of them united 

 as far as the second joint, and two as far as the first ; remiges 22 ; 

 third primary longest. Genera, Alcedo and Cerylej the Kingfishers. 

 151, 152. 



ALClDiE (range 8^ in. to 32 in.) — three toes, united as far as the 

 claws ; wings fin-like ; tail rudimentary. Genera, Alca, Uria, 

 Mergulus and Fratercula j the Razorbill, Auks, Guillemots, and 

 Puffin. 373-379- 



AmpeliNjE — sub-family of Passeridas (range 7 in. to •]\ in.) ; red 

 waxy tips to secondaries ; long erectile crest. Genus, Ampelis; the 

 Waxwing. 77. 



ANATlDiE (range 13 in. to 60 in.) — four toes, three of them united as 

 far as the claws ; bill broad and lamellate, or toothed. Genera, 

 Anser, Bernicla, Cygnus, Tadonia, Anas, Spatula, Dafila, 

 Querquedula, Mareca, FuUgula, Clangula, Harelda, Costnoitetta, 

 Somateria, CEdemia, and Mergusj the Geese, Swans, and Ducks, 

 .217-262. 



.ArdeiDvE (range 12 in. to 42 in.) — four toes, two united ; bill long 

 and straight ; legs long ; middle claw pectinate. Genera, Ardea, 

 Nycticorax, and Botaurusj the Herons and Bitterns. 202-211. 



CaprimulGID/« (range 10 in. to 13 in.) — four toes, three of them 

 united no further than the first joint ; phalanges, 2, 3, 4, 3 ; bill 

 gaping. Genus, Caprimulgus ; the Nightjars. 141-143. 



CerthiiNjT, — sub-family of Passeridae (range 45 in. to 6 in.) ; first 

 primary less than half as long as second ; bill long, curved, and 

 slender ; rounded tail and long curved hind claw. Genera, 

 CerthiaxaA Tichodroma ; the Creepers. Sj, 86. 



