326 LAND-CIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



CHAPTER III. 

 rOURTn ORDER. Raptores. 



The birds of prey constitute this well-defined order. Their 

 bill, like that of the parrots, is stout (about as deep as long), 

 and strongly liooked ; it is likewise furnished with a true cere, 

 often concealed by feathers, which contains the nostrils. The 

 toes, however, are not arranged in pairs, but on the general 

 plan of three in front and one behind ; the feet are highly 

 muscular, and furnished with sharp, fully developed claws, 

 called " talons." These are the principal external features. 



The birds of prey are noted for the strength, rapiditj^ grace, 

 or ease, of their flight, and in many cases, for their extraoi'di- 

 nary power of sailing. With the exception of the vultures, 

 thej'^ are famous for their spirit, variousl}' displayed in energj'-, 

 boldness, or courage, and for their carnivorous taste. For the 

 most part, they feed upon smaller birds, quadrupeds, snakes, 

 fish, or even insects, which the}' capture for themselves. They 

 are hardy, being furnished with thick feathering, and an en- 

 casement of fat, which enables them to withstand the cold, 

 and to live without food much longer than human beings can. 

 They are to a large extent non-migratory, and those that mi- 

 grate probably do so in a great measure to follow the migra- 

 tions of their prey rather than to avoid the winter-weather in 

 their summer-homes. They have been known to travel in large 

 flocks, and the Fish Hawks are said to build their nests often 

 in communities, but as a rule they are eminently unsocial, 

 though faithful to their chosen haunts. The vultures are gre- 

 garious, cowardly, voracious, but rather slothful, and feed 

 chiefly on carrion, which they frequently disgorge, when dis- 

 turbed ; whereas both the hawks, and the owls especially, eject 

 in pellets only what is indigestible. Their only notes are said 

 to be hisses or grunts. The hawks, on the other hand, possess 

 various screams or whining whistles, while the owls are famous 



