NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



RAPTORES.i — The Birds of Prey. 



The group of birds usually known as the Raptorcs, or Rapacious Birds, 

 embraces three well-marked divisions, namely, the Owls, the Hawks, and tlie 

 Tultures. In former classifications they headed the Class of Birds, being 

 honored with this position in consequence of their jiowerful organizatibn, 

 large size, and predatory habits. But it being now known that in structure 

 they are less perfectly organized than tlie Passcrcs and Strisorcs, birds gener- 

 ally far more delicate in organization, as well as smaller in size, they occupy 

 a place in the more recent arrangements nearly at the end of the Terrestrial 

 forms. 



Tlie complete definition of the order Eaptorcs, and of its subdivisions, 

 rerpiires the enumeration of a great many characters ; and that their distin- 

 guishing features may be more easily recognized by the student, I give first 

 a brief diagnosis, including tlieir simplest characters, to be followed by a 

 more detailed account hereafter. 



Common CnARACTERS. Bill hooked, the upper mandible furnished at the base with a 

 soft skin, or '• cere," in which the nostrils are situated. Toes, three before and one behind. 

 Raptores. 



Strigidae. Hyes directed forwards, and surrounded by radiating feathers, 

 whiiU are bounded, except anteriorly, by a circle or rim of differently formed, 

 stin'er feathers. Outer toe reversible. Claws much hooked and very sharp. 

 Legs and toes usually feathered, or, at least, coated with bristles. The Owls. 

 Falconidae. Eyes lateral, and not surrounded by radiating feathers. Outer 

 toe not reversible (except in Pandiun^. Claws usually hooked and sharp, 

 but variable. Head more or less completely feathered. The Hawhs. 

 Cathartidse. Eyes lateral; whole head naked. Outer toe not reversible; 

 claws slightly curved, bhuit. The Vultures. 



The preceding characters, tliough purely artificial, may nevertheless serve 

 to distinguish the three families of Raptorcs belonging to tlie North American 

 Oniis ; a more scientific diagnosis, embracing a sufficient nundier of osteo- 

 logical, and accompanying anatomical characters, will be fonnd further on. 



' The whole of the systematic portion of tlic article on the Raptorcs, has been prepared by Mr. 

 Ridgway ; the biographies, however, are furnished by Dr. Brewer, as usual. The outlines of the 

 skulls a-.'.d r.tema of the St.rijidx, the skulls, sterna, and heads of the Cathartidre, anil the generic 

 outlines of the Falconida; and Catharlida, were drawn by Mr. Ridgway. — S. F. Bauid. 



VOL. III. 1 



