BIRDS OF PREY. 



BIRDS. 



ORDER I. 

 Birds of Prey. Accipitres^' {Linncuus). 



^^HE Birds of Prey hold the same position among the feathered 

 tribes as the lion, the tiger, the hyaena, and other carnivorous 

 races among mammiferous quadrupeds. They live upon flesh, and 

 for the most part pursue and destroy the animals that constitute 

 their food. Their flight is therefore povv'erful, and the weapons 

 with which they are armed of a most formidable character. Their 

 beak is strong, sharp, and curved downwards towards the tip, and 

 their feet are furnished with hooked talons well adapted to pierce 

 and secure their struggling quarry. The muscles of their thighs 

 and the strength of their legs indicate the power of their claws, 

 while the length and expanse of their wings testify to the velocity 

 of their flight. Their general appearance is indicative of the 

 ferocity of their nature, and their whole life is devoted to carnage 

 and rapine. The Raptorial Birds are divisible into two sections : 

 those that fly only in the day-time, and those that are nocturnal 

 in their habits. To the first of these divisions belong the Eagles, 

 the Vultures, and the Falcons, distinguished by having their eyes 

 placed upon the sides of their head, so that they can see in every 

 direction ; while in the nocturnal birds of prey both the eyes are 

 directed forwards. 



SUB-ORDER. 



Diurnal Birds of Prey. Accipitres DiuRXi.t 



In addition to the lateral position of the eyes referred to above, 

 the diurnal birds of prey are recognizable by having the base of 

 their beak covered with a soft skin, called, from its wax-like 

 appearance, the"rr;r," in which the orifices of the nostrils are 



* Accipiter, a hawk : from Accipio, ^o take by force. f Diurnus, belonging to the day. 



