326 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
CHAPTEE. AL. 
FOURTH ORDER. Raprtores. 
Tue birds of prey constitute this well-defined order. Their 
bill, like that of the parrots, is stout (about as deep as long), 
and strongly hooked ; it is likewise furnished with a true cere, 
often concealed by feathers, which contains the nostrils. The 
toes, however, are not arranged in pairs, but on the general 
plan of three in front and one behind; the feet are highly 
muscular, and furnished with sharp, fully developed claws, 
called “talons.” These are the principal external features. 
The birds of prey are noted for the strength, rapidity, grace, 
or ease, of their flight, and in many cases, for their extraordi- 
nary power of sailing. With the exception of the vultures, 
they are famous for their spirit, variously displayed in energy, 
boldness, or courage, and for their carnivorous taste. For the 
most part, they feed upon smaller birds, quadrupeds, snakes, 
fish, or even insects, which they capture for themselves. They 
are hardy, being furnished with thick feathering, and an en- 
casement of fat, which enables them to withstand the cold, 
and to live without food much longer than human beings can. 
They are to a large extent non-migratory, and those that mi- 
grate probably do so in a great measure to follow the migra- 
tions of their prey rather than to avoid the winter-weather in 
their summer-homes. ‘They have been known to travel in large 
flocks, and the Fish Hawks are said to build their nests often - 
in communities, but as a rule they are eminently unsocial, 
though faithful to their chosen haunts. The vultures are gre- 
garious, cowardly, voracious, but rather slothful, and feed 
chiefly on carrion, which they frequently disgorge, when dis- 
turbed ; whereas both the hawks, and the owls especially, eject 
in pellets only what is indigestible. Their only notes are said 
to be hisses or grunts. The hawks, on the other hand, possess 
various screams or whining whistles, while the owls are famous 
Ne a ee ee ee ees 
