2 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



are large, and their sight very acute. In most the eyes are 

 situated laterally ; in the owls alone they are directed forwards. 

 In those that hunt by night a very delicate sense of hearing 

 is added. 



They vary greatly in size, most of them being of large or 

 moderate size, some are very large, and others small. They are 

 analogous to the FercB among the Mammalia. Some have a fierce 

 and daring disposition, and great strength, suited equally for rapid 

 pursuit or powerful action, and live chiefly on the flesh of living 

 animals which they catch ; others, from their natvire, incapable of 

 like exertions or activity, content themselves with such animals as 

 they find dead. The female is in almost all cases the larger bird 

 than the male, and the task of supporting the young (which are born 

 callow and blind) falls chiefly on her. All liaptores are, I believe, 

 monogamous, and the pairs live together for their whole lives. 

 They are far from being prolific, few rearing in one brood more than 

 four, many only one and two young ones. They are not very nu- 

 merous in species. Some of the most typical groups are spread all 

 over the world, but there are many peculiar to warmer regions, 

 where there is a greater abundance of animal life, and especially 

 a great increase in the number of reptiles and insects ; and those 

 also that are fitted for devouring carcases, which putrefy so soon in 

 warm climates, are only developed in those countries, and here 

 multiply numerically to a larger extent than any of the others. 



The young of Baptores do not in general change their nestling 

 plumage till the* usual moulting season of the second year. In 

 some, it is said, a partial change of colour takes place in the fea- 

 thers themselves previous to the first moult. 



The skull in Haptores is short, broad, and high ; the frontal 

 portion flat, convex posteriorly, A longitudinal furrow extends 

 along the whole upper surface of the cranium, and the cranium 

 and face are separated by a sudden contraction. The bony 

 orbits are very complete. The ramus of the lower jaw is formed 

 by an entire bony plate. The number of cervical vertebras 

 vary from 11 to 14, of dorsal from 7 to 8, sacral 10 to 11, and 

 caudal 7 to 8. The sternum is large, completely ossified — in most 



