4 
KEY TO FAMILIES OF WATER BIRDS 
ORDER HERODIONES: HERONS, STORKS, AND 
IBISES. 
Fig. 14. 
Fig. 15. 
1. Bill grooved along sides from nostril to tip. 
Ibididae : Ibises, p. 70. 
1'. Bill not grooved along sides from nostril to tip. 
2. Bill slightly decurved or else inclined upward 
toward end ; head and part of neck naked. 
Ciconiidae : 
Storks and Wood Ibises, p. 72. 
2'. Bill straight and sharp ; neck and most of 
head feathered. Fig. 15. Ardeidae : 
Herons, Bitterns, Egrets, p. 72. 
ORDER PALUDICOL^E: CRANES, RAILS, COOTS, 
AND GALLINULES. ^ 
1. Hind toe small and much elevated ; size large, wing 17 or 
more. Fig. 16. Gruidae : Cranes, p. 78. 
1'. Hind toe long, nearly on a level with front toes; 
size small, wing 10 or less. Fig. 17. Rallidae : 
Rails, Coots, Gallinules, etc., p. 79. 
Fig. 17. Fig. 16. 
Fig. 18. 
ORDER LIMICOLH3: SHORE BIRDS. 
1. Hind claw, if any, not longer than its toe. 
2. Front of tarsus covered with transverse scutellae. Fig. 18. 
3. Tarsus very thin, toes with lateral scallops or membranes. 
Fhalaropodidae : Phalaropes, p. 84. 
3'. Tarsus rounded, toes without lateral scallops or mem¬ 
branes. 
4. Bill slender, longer than middle toe without claw. 
Scolopacidae : Snipes, Sandpipers, etc., p. 87. 
4'. Bill stout, not longer than middle toe without claw. 
Aphrizidae: Surf Birds and Turnstones, p. 106. 
2'. Front of tarsus covered with hexagonal or irregular scu- 
tellse. Fig. 19. 
3. Tarsus more than twice as long as middle toe and claw. 
Recurvirostridae: Avocets and Stilts, p. 86.’ 
3'. Tarsus less than twice as long as middle toe and claw. 
4. Bill longer than tarsus, laterally compressed and wedge- Fig ‘ 19 ‘ 
shaped . . Haematopodidae : Oyster-catchers, p. 107. 
4'. Bill shorter than tarsus, pointed, not laterally compressed. 
Charadriidae : Plovers, p. 102. 
1'. Hind claw longer than its toe ; wing with spur. 
Jacanidae : Jacana, p. 108. 
