TJieir Eggs and Nests. 37 



GRIFFON VULTURE— (6'//i";A/r7^^ formerly, 



Vultiir fiilvus). 



EGYPTIAN VULTURE— (A7"^^///r^>^ pzrcnopterus). 



FAMILY II.- FALCONID^. 



There are several species belonging to this family 

 of sufficiently common occurrence even still in these 

 days of game preservers, gamekeepers, and vermin- 

 killers. 



Time was, and not so long since either, when many 

 even of those most rare now were familiarily met 

 with in almost all parts of the country ; and Eagles 

 and the Kite and several of the larger and more con- 

 spicuous Falcons and Hawks were not yet become so 

 much like Black Swans, as the}" are now in so many 

 English and even Scottish counties. 



These birds differ, with a marked distinction, from 

 those belonging to the Vulture-kind ; and as much in 

 habits and food and power of wing, as in appearance, 

 formation, bill and claws, and other matters, such as 

 the scientific naturalist notices for the purpose of 

 enabling himself and others to distinguish between 

 family and family, genus and genus, species and 

 species. 



Thus, the Vulture's foou is usually carrion, the flesh 

 of animals killed by other agency than their own, and 

 in numberless instances in a state of putridity more 

 or less complete. 



The food of the Falcon tribe generally consists of 

 the flesh of creatures taken and killed by themselves 



