BIRDS OF PREY. 



FAMILY II. 

 THE FALCONS. FALCONID/E. 



General Characteristics. — Bill partly covered at the base by a cere, compressed 

 on the sides, with the culmen curved from the cere to the tip, which is hooked and 

 acute, and the lateral margins either toothed or festooned ; wings long and pointed ; 

 tail mod'Crate and broad ; tarsi and toes of various lengths and strong ; claws long, 

 curved, and acute, especially those of the inner and hind toes. The head and neck 

 are covered with feathers, and the eyes placed laterally, deei^ly sunk, and protected 

 by a bony brow. 



The Falcons, as a group, are easily to be recognized among 

 the other birds of -prey. Their head and neck are covered with 

 feathers, and their eyes, placed upon the sides of their head, are 

 overshadowed and protected by a prominent eyebrow, Avhich gives 

 them the appearance of being deeply sunk, and thus imparts to 

 their physiognomy a peculiarly ferocious and determined expres- 

 sion. For the most part they subsist upon prey killed by them- 

 selves ; but they differ widely in the amount of courage displayed 

 in the pursuit of their quarry ; and there are a few species that 

 will even share with the vultures their disgusting meal. The fal- 

 cons usually seize and carry off their victims by means of their 

 powerfully-armed feet, and their beak is, in most cases, only used 

 for tearing it to pieces. Some of them feed almost exclusively 

 on birds and small quadrupeds; others upon snakes, frogs, and 

 lizards ; there are a few that live upon fishes, while a considerable 

 number derive a great portion of their nourishment exclusively 

 from insects. Their mode of capturing prey is also greatly diver- 

 sified. Some hover in the air or sail slowly along until the quarry 

 appears in sight, when they plunge down upon it with the rapidity 

 of lightning. Some pursue their game with the greatest perti- 

 nacity, until they get an opportunity of clutching it with their 

 murderous talons ; whilst others frequent woods and thickets, 

 where, like cats, they appear to lie in wait for their victims. 



The plumage of the young birds is often very different from 

 that of the adults, a circumstance which has caused the number 

 of species to be mistakenly multiplied. They make their nests 

 of dried sticks, among rocks or in tall trees, wherein they lay from 

 two to five eggs. The females are generally larger than the males, 

 but inferior to them in the beauty of their plumage. 



The numerous species belonging to this family are scattered 

 throughout the world, and are met with alike on rocky hills and 

 in deep valleys, in the pathless forest and in the open country, 



