ACCTPITRES. 245 



Grallatorias, or Waders j but its legs completely invested with 

 feathers, its hooked and cleft beak, projecting eye-lids, and all 

 its anatomical details place it in the present order. The tarsus 

 is scutellated, its toes short in proportion, and the circumfer- 

 ence of the eye naked ; it has a long stiff crest on the occiput, 

 and the two intermediate quills of the tail extend much beyond 

 the others. It inhabits the dry and open grounds in the 

 vicinity of the Cape, where it hunts reptiles on foot ; its claws 

 consequently become much worn. Its chief strength lies in the 

 leg. It is the Falco serpentarius of Gmel. Enl. 721 ; Vieill. 

 Galer. 260. The inhabitants of Martinique have endeavoured to 

 multiply the breed, in order to destroy the Lance-headed Viper 

 with which that island is infested. 



THE NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF TREY. 



Have a large head; great eyes, directed forwards, sur- 

 rounded by a circle of fringed feathers, the anterior of which 

 cover the cera of the beak, and the posterior, the opening of 

 the ear. Their enormous pupil permits the entrance of so 

 many rays of light, that they are dazzled by that of day. 

 Their cranium, which is thick, but formed of a light substance, 

 is excavated by large sinuses, which communicate with the 

 ear, and which probably assist in strengthening the sense of 

 hearing ; but the organs of flight are not very vigorous ; their 

 fourchette is weak ; their feathers being soft, and covered with 

 a fine down, make no noise in flying. They can direct their 

 external toe either forwards or backwards. These birds are 

 chiefly on the wing during twilight, and when the moon shines. 

 When attacked in the day time, they do not fly ofi', but stand 

 more erect, assume odd postures, and make the most ludicrous 

 gestures. 



Their gizzard is tolerably muscular, although their prey is 

 wholly animal, consisting in mice, small birds, and insects; 

 but it is preceded by a large crop ; their cseca are long and 

 wide at bottom, &c. Small birds have a natural antipathy to 

 them, and frequently assemble from all quarters to attack 

 them. They form but one genus, 



Strix, Lin. 

 Which may be divided by their tufts, the size of their ears, the extent 



