162 ' RAPTORES. PLUNDERERS. 



large fasciculi of fibres, and a soft epithelium ; the intestine of 

 moderate length and width, or very long and narrow, with the 

 coecal appendages rudimentary or wanting, but in one of the 

 families large ; the cloaca always globular and of gi-eat size. — 

 See Plates IV, V, XX, and XXI. 



The tarsi vary much in length and thickness ; and, being 

 sometimes feathered, more frequently bare, with either small 

 scales or large scutella in front, present no common character. 

 The toes are always four, placed on the same level, padded 

 and papillate beneath ; but they vary in length, thickness, 

 relative size, and direction ; and the claws, although generally 

 large, very acute, and well curved, differ considerably in the 

 different genera. 



Birds of this order occur in every country, but of the three 

 famihes into which they may be arranged, one, that of the Vul- 

 tures, is peculiar to the warmer regions, so that in Britain the 

 appearance of such birds is merely accidental, and as yet only 

 a single instance is on record. The Vulturince, characterized 

 by a bill of moderate length, having the base cerate and the 

 tip decurved, an ovato-oblong head, which, with part of the 

 neck, is destitute of feathers, very ample wings, anterior toes 

 webbed at the base, claws large and moderately curved, 

 gradually pass into the second family, or that composed of 

 Eagles and Havi'ks. In this family, the Falconinw^ the bill is 

 short and stout, with the base cerate, the tip elongated and 

 decurved ; the head large, broad^ and feathered ; the wings 

 very long and broad ; the claws very large, much curved, and 

 extremely acute. The Striginw or Owls are for the most part 

 nocturnal, and are distinguished by their excessively large 

 roundish head ; very short cerate bill, of which the tip is elon- 

 gated and decurved ; extremely developed eyes and ears ; very 

 soft plumage, long, broad, and rounded wings, and feathered 

 tarsi and toes. 



