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"Speotyto. Burrowing Owls. tarsi long, about twice as long as the middle toe without its claw, very scant-feathered in front, bare behind; toes bristly. The long slim legs are quite peculiar.

The Beaks and Claws of a Burrowing Owl

"Speotyto. Burrowing Owls. tarsi long, about twice as long as the middle toe without its claw, very…

"Fig. Typical passerine feet. The right hand fig. is plectrophanes lapponicus." Elliot Coues, 1884

Typical Passerine Bird Feet

"Fig. Typical passerine feet. The right hand fig. is plectrophanes lapponicus." Elliot Coues, 1884

"Sterna anaisthetikos. Bridled Tern. The foot of a Bridled Tern; Tarsus .85; middle toe the same, with the claw 1.20; outer toe 1.00; inner .75." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Foot of a Bridled Foot

"Sterna anaisthetikos. Bridled Tern. The foot of a Bridled Tern; Tarsus .85; middle toe the same, with…

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of Honey-Buzzard

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

"Fig. 41 shows phalanges of caprimulgines foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 4, 4." Elliot Coues, 1884

Phalanges of Caprimulgine

"Fig. 41 shows phalanges of caprimulgines foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 4, 4." Elliot Coues, 1884

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of Cassowary

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

"Figure shows Scutellate laminiplanter tarsus of a cat-bird. A tarsus so disposed as to its podotheca is said to be scutellate - scutellate before (fig 37), or behind, or both, as the case may be. ." Elliot Coues, 1884

Scutellate Laminiplanter Tarsus of a Cat-bird

"Figure shows Scutellate laminiplanter tarsus of a cat-bird. A tarsus so disposed as to its podotheca…

"The great toe is generally the strongest, but this is not an absolute law; a projection which is found on the leg of some species is designated a spur, and is a formidable weapon."

Foot of Coot

"The great toe is generally the strongest, but this is not an absolute law; a projection which is found…

"Fig. 40 Phalanges of Cypseline foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 3, 3 of Caprimulginae." Elliot Coues, 1884

Phalanges of Cypseline Foot

"Fig. 40 Phalanges of Cypseline foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 3, 3 of Caprimulginae." Elliot Coues,…

"Details of Engyptila albifrons (White-fronted Dove); head and foot natural size; wing and tail reduced.

White-fronted Dove Details

"Details of Engyptila albifrons (White-fronted Dove); head and foot natural size; wing and tail reduced.

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of White-Headed Eagle

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

"Quiscalus. Grackle. The feet are large and strong, and the birds spend much of their time on the ground, where they walk or run instead of advancing by leaps." Elliot Coues, 1884

Grackle Foot

"Quiscalus. Grackle. The feet are large and strong, and the birds spend much of their time on the ground,…

"Fig. 46. - Raptorial foot of a hawk, Accipiter cooperi. The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot. It is advantageous to a bird of pray to be able to spread the toes as widely as possible, that the talons may seize pray like a set of grappling irons; and accordingly the toes are widely divergent from each other, the outer one in the owls and a few hawks being quite versatile. In a raptorial character, the toes are cleft profoundly, or, if united at base, it is by movable webbing; the claws are immensely developed and the under-surfaces of the toes are scabrous or bulbous for greater security of the object grasped." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Raptorial Foot of a Hawk

"Fig. 46. - Raptorial foot of a hawk, Accipiter cooperi. The raptorial is another modification of the…

"Cupidonia. Tarsi scant-feathered to the toes in front and on sides, bare on a strip behind; toes extensively webbed at base." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Foot of a Prairie Hen

"Cupidonia. Tarsi scant-feathered to the toes in front and on sides, bare on a strip behind; toes extensively…

"Fig. 44- Syndactyle foot of a kingfisher. Thus a kingfisher shows what is called a syndactyle or syngnesious foot (fig. 44), where the outer and middle toes cohere for most of their extent and have a broad sole in common. It is a degradation of the insessorial foot, and not a common one either; seen in those perching birds which scarcely use their feet for progression, but simply for sitting motionless." Elliot Coues, 1884

The foot of a Kingfisher

"Fig. 44- Syndactyle foot of a kingfisher. Thus a kingfisher shows what is called a syndactyle or syngnesious…

"Fig. 47. - Raptorial foot of an owl, The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot. It is advantageous to a bird of pray to be able to spread the toes as widely as possible, that the talons may seize pray like a set of grappling irons; and accordingly the toes are widely divergent from each other, the outer one in the owls and a few hawks being quite versatile. In a raptorial character, the toes are cleft profoundly, or, if united at base, it is by movable webbing; the claws are immensely developed and the under-surfaces of the toes are scabrous or bulbous for greater security of the object grasped." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Raptorial Foot of an Owl

"Fig. 47. - Raptorial foot of an owl, The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot.…

"The great toe is generally the strongest, but this is not an absolute law; a projection which is found on the leg of some species is designated a spur, and is a formidable weapon."

Foot of Pheasant

"The great toe is generally the strongest, but this is not an absolute law; a projection which is found…

"Ortyx. Quail. Outstretched feet reaching beyond end of tail. Bill black or blackish-brown. " Elliot Coues, 1884

Quail Foot and Bill

"Ortyx. Quail. Outstretched feet reaching beyond end of tail. Bill black or blackish-brown. " Elliot…

"Fig. 39 shows a Tridactyle foot of a sanderling, Calidris arenaria." Elliot Coues, 1884

Tridactyle Foot of a Sanderling

"Fig. 39 shows a Tridactyle foot of a sanderling, Calidris arenaria." Elliot Coues, 1884

"Booted laminiplanter tarsus of a Robin" Elliot Coues, 1884

Booted Laminiplanter Tarsus of a Robin

"Booted laminiplanter tarsus of a Robin" Elliot Coues, 1884

"Sterna fuliginosa. Sooty Tern. feet stout; toes short; with much incised webs; tibia bare .70; tarsus 1.00; middle toe and claw 1.20; outer do. 1.05; inner do. .75; hind do. .30. "Elliot Coues, 1884

Sooty Tern Foot

"Sterna fuliginosa. Sooty Tern. feet stout; toes short; with much incised webs; tibia bare .70; tarsus…

"Anthus Ludovicianus. Louisiana Pipit. American Titlark. Brown Lark. Wagtail. Bill blackish, pale at base below; feet brown. bill .50; tarsus .90." Elliot Coues, 1884

American Titlark Claw

"Anthus Ludovicianus. Louisiana Pipit. American Titlark. Brown Lark. Wagtail. Bill blackish, pale at…

"Fig. 45.- Zygodactyle foot of a woodpecker, Hylotomus pileatus. The zygodactyle or yoke-toed modification has been sufficiently noted in (fig. 45). It was formerly made much of, as a scansorial or climbing type of foot, and an absurd "order" of birds has been called Scansores." Elliot Coues, 1884

Zygodactyle Foot of a Woodpecker

"Fig. 45.- Zygodactyle foot of a woodpecker, Hylotomus pileatus. The zygodactyle or yoke-toed modification…