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 (14770387353).jpg

Identifier: keytonorthameric00coues (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: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: Boston, Estes and Lauriat
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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Text Appearing Before Image:
metimes upon the surface ; crown, scapulars andwing-coverts superficially sprinkled with white. Wing-quills 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 spacesinore extensive than the green portion. Cervical collar and entire under parts white, the breast,belly, sides and crissum spotted with glossy-green. Bill black, usually light at base below ;feet dark. A supposed 9 differs in having the green-spotted phnnage of the under parts andadjoining white area tinged with chestnut. Lens;th about 8.00; wing 3.25-3.50; tail 2.50 ;bill 1.67; whole foot 1.00. Valleys of the Lower Rio Grande and Colorado, and southward;common. Ne.sting and eggs as in C. alcyon; eggs 4-6, very thin and smooth, like porcelain,rouucjed oval, 0.90-1.00 X 0.68-0.75.
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 321. — Belted Kingfisher, reduced.(From Tenney, after Wilson.) 26. Family CUCULID^): Cuckoos. Feet zygodacUjle Inj reversion of the fourth toe. This character, in connection with thosegiven below, will answer presfmt purposes ; and, in my ignorance vf some of the exotic ft)rms, 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 Psittaci, whose numerous specialties will))revent 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 classiflcatory purposes ; in these important respects differing from all birds pre-viously treated in tins work. There are two carotids. The oil-gland is nude, and coeca arepresent. The family is a large and important one. It comprehends ((uite a number of leading CUCULIDjE CEOTOPHAGINJE: ANIS. 471 forms showing peculiar

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