NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



RAPTORES.i — The Birds of Prey. 



The group of birds usually known as the Raptores, or Eapacious Birds, 

 embraces three well-marked divisions, namely, the Owls, the Hawks, and the 

 Vultures. In former classifications they headed the Class of Birds, being 

 honored with this position in consequence of their powerful organization, 

 large size, and predatory habits. But it being now known that in structure 

 they are less perfectly organized than the Passeres and Strisores, birds gener- 

 ally far more delicate in organization, as well as smaller in size, they occupy 

 a place in the more recent arrangements nearly at the end of the Terrestrial 

 forms. 



Tlie complete definition of the order Raptores, and of its subdivisions, 

 requires- the enumeration of a great many characters; and that their distin- 

 guishing features may be more easily recognized by the student, I give first 

 a brief diagnosis, including their simplest characters, to be followed by a 

 more detailed account hereafter. 



Common Characters. Bill hooked, the upper mandible furnished at the base with a 

 soft skin, or " cere," in which the nostrils are situated. Toes, three before and one behind. 

 Raptores. 



Strigidse. Eyes directed forwards, and surrounded by radiating feathers, 

 which are bounded, except anteriorly, by a circle or rim of differently formed, 

 stiffer feathers. Outer toe reversible. Claws much hooked and very sharp. 

 Legs and toes usuall)' feathered, or, at least, coated with bristles. The Owls. 

 Falconidae. Eyes lateral, and not vSurrounded by radiating feathers. Outer 

 toe not reversible (except in Pandion'). Claws usually hooked and sharp, 

 but variable. Head more or less completely feathered. The Hawhs. 

 Cathartidee. Eyes lateral ; whole head naked. Outer toe not reversible ; 

 claws slightly curved, blunt. The Vultures. 



The preceding characters, though purely artificial, may nevertheless serve 

 to distinguish the three families of Raptores belonging to the North American 

 Ornis ; a more scientific diagnosis, embracing a sufficient number of osteo- 

 logical, and accomj^anying anatomical characters, will be found further on. 



1 The whole of the systematic portion of the article on the Raptores, has been prepared by Mr. 

 Ridgway ; the biographies, however, are furnished by Dr. Brewer, as usual. The outlines of the 

 skulls and sterna of the Strigidce, the skulls, sterna, and heads of the Cathartidce, and the generic 

 outlines of the Falcouidcc and Catluirtidce, were drawn by Mr. Ridgway. — S. F. Baiud. 



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