File:Key to North American birds. Containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of (14751034822).jpg

Identifier: keytonorthameric00coue (find matches)
Title: Key to North American birds. Containing a concise account of every species of living and fossil bird at present known from the continent north of the Mexican and United States boundary, inclusive of Greenland and lower California, with which are incorporated General ornithology: an outline of the structure and classification of birds; and Field ornithology, a manual of collecting, preparing, and preserving birds
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899
Subjects: Birds -- North America Birds -- Collection and preservation
Publisher: Boston, Estes and Lauriat
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
ears sometimes upon the surface ; crown, scapulars andwing-coverts superficially sprinkled with white. Wing-qmlls dusky on inner webs, green onthe outer, both marked in regular double series with pairs of white spots, scallops .or bars.Central tail-feathers dark green, usually touched with white along the edges, the others greenwith white bars becoming confluent at the bases of the feathers, where forming white spacesmore extensive than the green portion. Cervical collar and entire under parts white, the breast,belly, sides and crissum spotted with glossy-green. BiU black, usually light at base below ;feet dark. A supposed 9 difiers in having the green-spotted plumage of the under parts andadjoining white area tinged with chestnut. Length about 8.00; wing 3.25-3.50; tail 2.50 ;biU 1.67; whole foot 1.00. VaUeys of the Lower Eio Grande and Colorado, and southward;common. Nesting and eggs as in C. alcyon; eggs 4-6, very thin and smooth, like porcelain,rounded oval, 0.90-1.00 X 0.68-0.75.
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 321. — Belted Kingfisher,(From Tenney, after Wilson.) 26. Family CUCULID^: Cuckoos. Feet zygodactyle by reversion of the fourth toe. This character, in connection ^vith thosegiven below, will answer present purposes; and, in my ignorance of some of the exotic forms, Icannot attempt to give a full diagnosis. The only other North American birds with the toesyoked in the same combination are the Picidce and the Psittad, whose numerous specialties willprevent any misconception regarding Cucididce. The latter are desmognathous in palatal struct-ure, and homalogonatous, having the ambiens and three or all four of the other leg-muscles usedby Garrod for classifieatory purposes ; in these important respects differing from all birds pre-viously treated in this work. There are two carotids. The oil-gland is nude, and cceca arepresent. The family is a large and important one. It comprehends quite a number of leading CUCULIBJE CROTOPHAGINJE: ANIS. 471 fonns showing poculiar minor modificat

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