BIRDS OF PREY. 



generally situated. Their feet are furnished with three toes in front 

 and one behind — all quite destitute of feathers ; their plumage is 

 close set, their wings strong, and their flight rapid. They form 

 two great groups : the first embracing those that feed principally 

 on animals killed by themselves, the second including such as live 

 more or less upon carrion. The former were classed by Linnaeus 

 under the general name of Falcons, the latter, constituting an 

 equally natural group, embraces the Vultures, — those unclean 

 birds that must first occupy our attention as constituting the type 

 of the rapacious Order to which they belong.* 



FAMILY I. 

 THE VULTURES. VULTURID/E. 



General Characteristics. — Beak somewhat lengthened ; upper mandible nearly 

 straight, curved at the point only; head and neck in a greater or less degree naked, 

 or clothed only with a thin down ; talons comparatively weak. Food exclusively 

 the flesh of dead animals. 



The birds belonging to this widely distributed family present 

 considerable diversity in their habits, as well as in their general 

 conformation. Some differ from the rest of the vulturine race by 

 having their head and neck completely clothed with feathers — 



* It may seem strange to the unscientific reader that these ignoble birds should be 

 selected as the type or pattern of the rapacious tribes, in preference to the more highly 

 gifted eagles and hawks ; and it may therefore be necessary to explain in this place 

 what is the exact meaning attached to the words " type," " typical form," and " typical 

 species," which will occur so frequently in the following pages. The type of any given 

 tribe or family of birds is by no means that genus or species which is the most remark- 

 ably endowed with any particular faculty or attribute, but, on the contrar}% is selected 

 rather from its want of any extraordinary or exaggerated development of the peculiari- 

 ties characteristic of the group which it typifies. If, for example, the zoologist is asked 

 to select a species which shall be the type or exemplar of birds generally, he will, in all 

 probability, point to the Crow, as possessing in a medium degree of perfection the 

 qualities belonging to all races of birds concentrated in itself. It is true that it cannot 

 soar so high as the eagle, or fly with the swiftness of the swallow ; but it can fly very 

 well and with moderate rapidity. It does not run with the fleetness of an ostrich, or 

 hop with the vivacity of many of the smaller birds ; but it can both walk and hop, 

 when it thinks proper, with considerable alacrity. It is not a wading bird, but it has 

 no objection to wade into the water, either of the marsh or of the sea-shore, in search 

 of food. It is equally at home when perched upon a tree, and feeds indiscriminately 

 upon all sorts of substances, whether animal or vegetable — thus combining the charac- 

 teristics of all the feathered races. 



In the same way the Vulture is selected as the type of the Rapacious Birds. It is not 

 the monarch of the sky, but its powers of flight are very respectable ; and although it 

 is too weak to do battle with animals possessed of much strength, it will nevertheless 

 kill and devour such feeble game as its cowardice permits it to attack. 



