234 



VERTEBRATA. 



Order X. ACCIPITEES. 

 RAPTORES. RAPTATORES. 



Bill arched, strongly hooked at the tip ; a cere at the base in 

 which the nostrils are placed. Legs stout, the inner toe only 

 turned backwards ; claws hooked, sharp, and partially retractile. 



The strongly hooked bill is armed with a lateral tooth in the 

 carnivorous species, but in the carrion-feeders it is obsolete or 

 wanting. In some of the eagles (Aquila, Pandion, Haliaetus) the 

 sternum is entire. In the Cathartidae only are the claws blunt 

 and comparatively straight. There are two carotids. The lower 

 larynx, worked by only one pair of intrinsic muscles, is present 

 in all except the Cathartidse. Gypogeranus is remarkable for the 

 length of the tarso-metatarsus. The tarsi and toes in this order 

 are generally reticulated, and sometimes clothed with feathers. 

 Excepting the owls, the females are always larger than the males. 



In the owls the eyes are frontal, and there is a large circle of 

 feathers around each ; the ear is well developed, and often pro- 

 vided with an operculum. The iris is enlarged to allow a greater 

 dilatation of the pupils that more light may enter the eye. The 

 outer or fourth toe is reversible. Their plumage is peculiarly 

 soft and downy. 



It is only among the vultures that social species are found. 

 Hawks and owls are solitary birds, building rude nests in almost 

 inaccessible situations, the latter in holes of trees, laying few eggs. 



In this order we have the condor (Sarcoramphus gryphus), 

 king- vulture (Sarcoramphus papa), turkey-buzzard (Catkartes 

 aura), lammergeyer (Gypaetiis barbatus), goshawk (Astur palum- 

 barius), sparrow-hawk (Accipiter nisus), merlin (Falco tssalon), 

 kite (Milvus regalis), buzzard (Buteo vulgaris), osprey (Pandion 

 haliaetus), eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), falcon (Falco peregrinus), 

 kestrel (Cerchneis tinnunculus), barn-owl (Strix flammea), great 



