HANDBOOK 
TO THE 
BIRDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 
LN TR.ODUG TION. 
THE Animal Kingdom consists of five divisions, the first of 
which, the Vertebrates, falls naturally into four classes :— 
T.—MAMMALIA. 
IL—AVES. 
JIT.—REPTILIA. 
EV.—PIscss. 
The second of these only comes within the scope of this work ; 
it has been divided into the following orders :— 
I.— RAPTORES. 
II.—INSESSORES. 
ITI.—GEMITORES. 
IV.—RASORES. 
V.—GRALLATORES. 
VI.—NATATORES. 
This arrangement is considered by many to be far from perfect, 
but it is the system adopted by Jerdon in his Birds of India, in 
accordance with which nearly every collection in India is 
arranged, and it has at least the merit of being simple and easily 
understood. 
Orper, Raptores. 
Bill strong, covered at the base with a cere or naked membrane, 
strongly hooked at the tip; nostrils open ; legs strong and muscu- 
lar; toes four, three in front and one behind, on the same plane, 
more or less rough beneath, and with strong, generally well- 
curved, and sharp claws. 
Famizy, Vulturide. 
Bill rather long, compressed, straight at the culmen, curved 
towards the tip, upper mandible never toothed, sometimes 
sinuate ; cere very large ; tarsus reticulated with small scales, 
somewhat short, stout, usually feathered at the knee, sometimes 
slightly elevated ; middle-toe long; outer-toe joined to the 
