156 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 
than, the head ; softish and membranous to the very tip, without constric- 
tion in its continuity ; straight or variously curved . . XLI. Scolopacidce. 
Toes lobate. Tarsi notably compressed. 
G-eneral characters of Scolopacidce. Body depressed; the under plumage 
Habits natatorial .... XLII. Phalaropodidce. 
thickened, duck-like. 
Analysis of Families of HERODIONES. 
Hallux lengthened, perfectly incumbent, with large claw. Tarsi scutellate. Mid- 
dle claw pectinate. Bill perfectly straight, tapering, acute. Loral region defi- 
nitely naked, continuous with covering of the bill. Head narrow, elongate, 
tapering XL1II. Ardeidce. 
Hallux somewhat reduced, less perfectly incumbent. Tarsi commonly reticulate. 
Middle claw not pectinate. Lores, gular space and usually more of the head, 
naked. Bill variously curved or with expanded tip. (Genera Tantalus , Ibis , 
Myderia , and Platalea .) XLIV. Tantalidce 
P 
i 
Analysis of Families of ALECTORIDES. 
Of great stature, with extremely long neck and legs. Part or all of the head 
bare. Toes much shorter than the tarsi; with basal webbing, but without loba- 
tion ; hallux very short, highly elevated. Bill equalling or exceeding the head, 
compressed, perfectly straight, contracted about the middle, with enlarged acute 
terminal portion ; nasal fossae wide and deep, with large perforate nostrils XLY. Gruidce. 
Size moderate and small ; neck and legs comparatively short. Head com- 
pletely feathered, excepting, in the Coots and Gallinules, a broad horny frontal 
plate. Toes equalling or exceeding the tarsi, simple or lobate. Bill not con- 
stricted in the middle, rather shorter than the head, straight and quite stout; or 
much longer, regularly slender and decurved, with long nasal fossae. Nostrils 
incompletely or not perforate XL VI. Rallidce . 
Analysis of Families of LAMELLIROSTRES. 
Of great stature, with extraordinarily lengthened neck and legs. Bill of unique 
shape, bent abruptly down from the middle. Tibiae naked below. Hind toe 
minute or absent. Wings rounded. Red the chief color . XLVII. Plicenicopteridce . 
Of moderate size; the neck short, or, when lengthened, not accompanied by 
co-ordinately lengthened legs, these being always shorter than the wing. Bill 
straight. Tibiae feathered below. Hind toe present; well developed and func- 
tional, though short XL VIII. Anatidce. 
Analysis of Families of STEGANOPODES. 
Bill rather longer than head, cleft to eyes, very stout at base, tapering to the 
decurved, but not hooked, tip. Nostrils abortive. Gular sac moderate, naked. 
Wings rather long, pointed. Tail long, stiff, cuneate, twelve to fourteen feathered. 
Feet nearly beneath centre of equilibrium XLIX. Sulidce . 
Bill several times longer than head, slender but strong, depressed, perfectly 
straight, with small distinct hooked nail at end. Nostrils very small. Gular sac 
enormous. Mandibular rami meeting only at tip. Wings extremely long, with 
upward of forty remiges. Tail short, rounded, of twenty or more feathers. 
Legs beneath centre of equilibrium, extremely short and stout . . L. Pelicanidce . 
