STRUCTURE OF BIRDS. 59 



Length from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, 19^ in, 

 Length from the point of the bill to the end of the rump, 11^ r,- 



Tongue about 



CEsophagus, 6i 



Intestine, 51 



Intestinal canal, 58^ 'f 



If the whole length of the bird be taken, its intestinal canal 

 is in proportional length as 3.025 to 1 ; but if only the body 

 excluding the feathers, as 5.064 to 1. 



The uses and relations of the parts described may now be 

 briefly stated. The bill, it is observed, is a very powerful in- 

 strument of prehension and offence ; its short, bulging, convex 

 form, with its sharp edges, prominent tooth-like process, and 

 strong curved acute point, rendering it well adapted for tearing 

 up the skin, flesh, and entrails of birds and other animals on 

 which the Falcon feeds. The long pointed wings of this bird 

 furnished with dense and large muscles, enable it to cleave the 

 air with gTeat rapidity ; while being in all respects organized 

 for a life of rapine, its whole frame is firm and compact, even 

 the feathers havins^ a close texture ; and its louGf, flexile toes 

 are furnished with curved claws, tapering to a fine point, and 

 capable of being thrust in opposition to each other into the 

 vitals of its victims. It preys entirely on living animals, 

 which, after capturing, it deprives in a rude manner of part of 

 their hair or feathers ; when, keeping its prey firm with its 

 foot, it tears up and swallows fragments of the flesh. If the 

 subject be large, it fills the stomach, and then the crop and 

 cesophagus, up to the very jaws, these parts being capable of 

 containing five or six ounces of flesh. Notwithstanding its 

 great agility and vigour, the capture of a suitable prize is not 

 always of easy accomplishment, and therefore it is that the 

 crop is added to the oesophagus, that enough of nutritious mat- 

 ter may be stowed away to last for a considerable time. That 

 part is merely a recipient for the food, v*diich is found in it quite 

 unaltered. In the individual above described the mass of flesh, 

 bones, and feathers contained in the oesophagus, was perfectly 

 fresh ten days after it was killed, the juices seeming to have a 



