so falconintE. 



dilated into a globular, oblong, or funnel-shaped ca- 

 vity. 



The eyes are large, in some degree inclined forwards, 

 so that an object can be perceived with both ; the eye- 

 lids ai-e equally mobile. The nostrils are small or of 

 moderate size, but in form vary extremely in the dif- 

 ferent species ; they are placed in the fore part of the 

 cere. The aperture of the ear is rather large, and 

 either round or oval. 



From the length, form, or covering, of the legs and 

 toes, no general characters can be derived ; for in some 

 the former are short and thick, in others long and 

 slender ; in some feathered, in others bare, and either 

 scutellate in front or scaly all round ; while the toes 

 vary as much in their relative length and other circum- 

 stances. The toes are four, the hind one shortest and 

 proportionally stronger, the third longest ; they are all 

 scutellate towards the end, sometimes along their whole 

 extent, and are soft, fleshy, tuberculate, and papillate 

 beneath. The claws are long, curved, very acute, and 

 having a great range of motion. 



The wings are always long and broad, but vary in 

 form, being in some rounded, in others pointed. Tlie 

 ■primary quills are, as in most families, ten ; the secon- 

 dary or cubital vary from thirteen to eighteen. The 

 tail is generally long, even, rounded, or forked, and is 

 always of twelve feathers. No distinctive characters, 

 therefore, can be derived from these organs. 



The same remark applies to the plumage, which is 

 generally strong and compact on the upper parts, al- 

 though sometimes soft and rather blended ; while on 

 the lower it is sometimes compact, but often soft and 



