232 
GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY. 
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(B.) Bill — curved up, extremely slender and acute (Avocet) Recurvirostrid^ 609 
— bent abruptly down, very stout, lamellate (Flamingo) Phcenicopterid^ 678 
— lamellate; mostly membranous, with nail at end (Swans, Geese, Ducks, &c.) .... Anatid^e 679 
— not lamellate; nostrils — tubular; hind toe very small (Petrels) Procellariidje 773 
— not tubular ; land toe — free, not lobed (Gulls and Terns) . . Larid^ 733 
— not free, lobed (Loons) Colymbid^ 789 
(C.) Tail — rudimentary; lores naked (Grebes) Podicipedid^ 792 
— perfect; forehead — covered with a horny shield (Coots) Rallid^ 669 
— feathered (Phalaropes) Phalaropodid^ 612 
(D.) Mid-claw — pectinate; 4th toe 4-jointed ; plumage lax (Goatsuckers) Caprmiulgid^ 447 
— not pectinate ; hind toe — versatile; plumage compact (Swifts) Cypselidje 455 
— not versatile; head — naked (go to b). 
— feathered (go to c). 
(b.) Nostrils — imperforate; naked leg and foot shorter than tail (Turkey) . . . . Meleagridid^ 576 
— perforate ; naked leg and foot — shorter than tail (Turkey-buzzards) . Cathartics 557 
— longer than tail (Cranes) GRi.iiD.a: 666 
(c.) Nostrils — feathered, or scaled, in deep fossa of stout hard bill Tetraonids 576 
— not feathered nor scaled, in groove of softish bill; tarsus — reticulate (Plover) 
Charadriids 597 
— scutellate in front (Snipe, &c.) 
(E.) Wing — spurred Parrids 669 
— not spurred ; forehead — covered with a horny shield (Gallinules) Rallids 669 
— feathered ; length — 2 feet or more Aramids 667 
— under 2 feet; 1st primary — attenuate ("Woodcock). . . Scolopacids 614- 
— not attenuate — much shorter than 2d (Rails) 
Rallids 669 
— about equal to 2d (Snipe, &c.) ScoLOPACiDiE 614 
or H-a:MATOPODIDS 606 
B. [The hind toe not elevated.] 
Toes syndactylous ; tibiae naked below ; bill straight, acute (Kingfishers) Alcedinids 468 
TiBIS NAKED below. (Go tO d.) 
Nostrils opening beneath soft swollen membrane. (Go to e.) 
Bill hooked and furnished with a cere. (Go to f.) 
Birds without the above characters. (Go to g.) 
(d.) Middle claw — pectinate (Herons) Ardeids 654 
— simple ; tarsus — scutellate in front (Ibises) Ibididje 648 
— reticulate; bill — flat, spoon-shaped (Spoonbill) . Plataleids 651 
— notflat, stout tapering (Wood Ibis) Ciconiids 652 
(e.) Bird over 18 Inches long, greenish (Texan Guan) Cracidje 572 
Birds under 18 inches long (Pigeons) Columbids 562 
(f.) Eyes — lateral, not surrounded by a disc; nostrils in the cere (Hawks, Eagles, &c.) . Falconids 519 
or Pandionids 556 
— anterior ; face more or less disc-like ; nostrils at edge of cere (Owls) ; middle claw — simple 
Strigids 502 
— jagged 
Aluconids 500 
ig.) Primaries — 10 ; the 1st (never spurious) always more than | as long as longest (go to h). 
— 10; the 1st (spurious or) at most not § as long as longest (go to i). 
— 9; the 1st (never spurious) of variable length (go to It). 
(h.) Tail — 12-feathered ; tarsal envelope irregular (Flycatchers) Tyrannids 428 
•— 10-feathered; secondaries — only 6; bill subulate (Humming-birds) . . . TROCHiLiDiE 458 
— more than 6; bill small, very short (Swifts) . . Cypselids 455 
(i.) Tarsus — "booted " ; wings — shorter than tail, both much rounded ; plumage very lax Chamsids 262 
— longer than tail ; tail — double-rounded Ampelids 325 
— not double-rounded (Thrushes, &c.) Turdids 240 
— scutellate ; nostrils — concealed ; bill — strongly epignathous, toothed and notched (Shrikes) 
Laniid^: 336 
— paragnathous ; — over 7 inches long (Crows and 
Jays) CoRViDS 414 
— not 7 inches ; bill — nearly = head 
(Nuthatches) Sittids 269^ 
— scarcely or not 
^ = head (Tits) Parid^e 263^ 
