Order 13. GRUES. Cranes. 



Wading birds of lengthened, often stately, proportions; the wings ample, often modified by elongation of inner 

 secondaries; tail short, of 12 feathers; head often partially denuded; bill stout, lengthened, with prominent nostrils; 

 at least distal portion of tibia bare; feet stout, the anterior toes webbed at base; the hind toe elevated and much 

 shortened. No description of external characters can be devised which will accurately cover the diverse families 

 which most authors wish to include with the Gruida proper; but the eggs of Courlans (Family Aramida) so closely 

 resemble the Gruids that there can be no possible doubt of their close phylogenetic relationship. Only one family, 

 the Gruide, Californian. 



Order 14. RALLIFORMES. Rails, Crakes, Coots, Gallinules. 



Marsh-haunting waders or swimmers, having chiefly compressed bodies (depressed in case of Coots,); short, 

 rounded, highly concave wings; tail short, of 10 or 14 soft feathers; necks of moderate length; heads fully feathered; 

 bills narrow, but often leather-like rather than horny; feet and legs greatly strengthened, the distal portion of tibiae 

 bare, the toes lengthened. Sparrow to crow size. Mildly to highly gregarious; sedentary or migratory. Eggs 

 3 or 4 to a dozen or more, invariably spotted, often finely. Young highly precocial, covered with down, often black. 

 Practically cosmopolitan. A decadent group, showing weakening of characters, especially of wings. One family, 

 the Rallida. 



Order 15. GALLIFORMES. Fowls, Turkeys, Grouse, Pheasants, Partridges, etc. 



Land birds, chiefly terrestrial, having stout, compact bodies, moderate or short necks, and relatively small 

 heads, with reduced cranial capacity; short, rounded, concave wings; bill short and stout with convex culmen, and 

 tomia of upper mandible overlapping lower; nostrils often concealed, scaled, or feathered; legs moderate or short, 

 often feathered to the toes, sometimes to the nails; toes four, the three front ones connected by webs at base, the 

 hind-toe greatly reduced (in many forms non-functional), elevated (save in Cracidce). Plumage often assimilates 

 closely to surroundings, but in some families becomes highly diversified and gorgeous. Size sparrow to eagle. Eggs 

 numerous, plain or pigmented; young highly precocial. Sedentary or irregularly migratory. Cosmopolitan. There 

 are perhaps six families, of which two native Californian and one (Phasianida) introduced. 



I. Tarsi and toes and nasal fossae naked. 



A. First (outer) primary much shorter than loth, or if longer, then 



tail longer than wing. Fam. 1. Phasianid.t. 



B. First primary as long as loth; tail always shorter than wing. Fam. 2. Perdicid.'e. 



II. Tarsi, toes and nasal fossae feathered. Fam. 3. Tetraonid.<e. 



Order 16. FALCONIFORMES. Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, Vultures. 



Diurnal, raptorial birds, having strong 10-primaried wings, hooked beaks with cutting edges, often toothed, 

 festooned, or notched, and a broad, wax-like growth, or plate, the cere, protecting the base of the upper mandible; 

 feet usually strong with sharp claws, adapted for seizing (exception Cathartids) ; toes free, or connected near base by 

 rudimentary membrane; tail normally of 12 rectrices. Sexes subsimilar, or sometimes superficially unlike, the fe- 

 male, except in Cathartidtz, usually the larger. Coloration of plumage variable, often shifting with age and subject 

 to erythrism, etc., but usually without conspicuous seasonal changes. Size range, warbler to giant. Young altri- 

 cial and highly dependent. Eggs usually 2-4, exceptionally 1-8, plain-colored, bluish, or variously pigmented 

 with browns, often highly ornate. Sedentary or irregularly migratory. A cosmopolitan group, well distributed. 

 A recent monographer, H. Kirke Swann, recognizes 329 species, with 352 additional races. 22 species with four 

 additional races, Californian. 



I. Normal characters of the group, suborder Falcones. 



A. Bill short, curved from base, toothed; tibia longer than tarsus; 



feet strong; wings long and pointed. Fam. 1. Falconid^e. 



B. Outer toe reversible. Fam. 2. Pandionid.?:. 



C. Bill somewhat weakened, straight at base, feet small and weak, 



wings elongated. Fam. 3. Milvidje. 



D. Essential characters moderated; outer toe connected with 



middle toe by membrane basally. Fam. 4. Buteonid^. 



II. Head and neck bare, the nostrils completely perforate; bill and 



feet weakened, unsuited to rending. Fam. 5. Catharttdje. 



Order 17. ANSERES. Ducks, Geese, Swans. 



Water birds of shapely, plump contour, or flattened below, having close-set plumage, necks of moderate or 

 great length; relatively small, lamellate bills; nostrils usually oval, fully exposed; short legs (only tarsi, or heels, 

 protruding from body envelope); three toes connected by full webs (rarely semipalmate), the hind toe small, simple, 

 free; wings moderate, sharp-pointed; flight vigorous and rapid. Young precocial. Eggs 4-12, exceptionally up to 

 20, plain-colored, somewhat oily as to surface and more or less impervious to water. Size range, killdeer to giant. 

 Sedentary or highly migratory, according to climate. Well distributed over all coastal and interior waters. A 

 homogeneous group of one family of about 200 species, of which 40 Californian. 



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