118 MANUAL 



and should be studied separately. Their digestive organs are 

 also worthy of special investigation and comparison. 



Professor Baird gives the following table which will greatly 

 aid in the study of the higher divisions of the family : 



" A. — The teeth of the bill directed downwards, the lamellse 

 composing one series only on the edge of the upper jaw. The 

 rami of the lower jaw separated. Bill broad ; depressed at 

 the end. 



a. — Tarsi reticulated, covered anteriorly with small hexag- 

 onal plates, gradually becoming smaller and rhomboidal 



laterally. Hind toe without free lobe. 



Cygxix.^. — Neck very long. Bill high at the base ; 

 longer than the head ; of equal width to the rounded 

 tip, with its narrow nail. Soft skin of bill generally 

 extending to the eye. Tarsi shorter than the middle 

 toe without claw. 



Axserix^e. — Neck rather long. Bill high at base ; as 

 long as or shorter than the head, narrowing to the tip, 

 which is chiefly formed by the large nail. Region in 

 front of the eye feathered. Tarsi longer than middle 

 toe without claw. 

 b. — Legs with transverse plates or scutellse anteriorly, these 



becoming much smaller and more hexagonal laterally and 



behind. Tarsi generally shorter than middle toe without 



claw. 



Axatix.e. — Hind toe without a broad membranous lobe 

 attached. Tarsi not longer than the middle toe ; feet 

 moderate. 



FuLiGULiXiE. — Hind toe with a broad membranous lobe 

 depending from its under surface. Feet large. Nail 

 of bill superior, gently decurved. Tail rather soft ; 

 the coverts well developed. 



Emsmatukix.^. — Toes and feet as in the last. Nail of 

 bill abruptly bent back from tip of bill, showing but 

 little on upper surface of the latter. Tail feathers 



