RAPTORES. 37 



ORDER I. 



Raptores or Tearers ; Vigors. 



The Raptores or tearers answer to the accipiters of Linnaeus 

 — birds of prey, as they are called — are analagous to the 

 carnivorous animals of the first great class in Zoology, the 

 mammalia — such as the lions, tigers, wolves, &c. 



This order in birds includes the eagles, falcons, vultures, 

 buzzards, harriers, and owls. The compact, powerful body; 

 predatory habits ; decided partiality for animal food ; strong, 

 hooked bill ; muscular limbs ; strong, curved, sharp claws, often 

 semi-retractile ; the piercing eye and bold, upright bearing of 

 this order separate them from all other birds. But appearances 

 do not always tell the real nature of animal life — bird, beast, or 

 man — as a thorough good and pure pug-dog is not necessarily 

 ferocious because he resembles a bull-dog. The strong, hooked 

 bill of the falcon or eagle, neither so powerful nor hooked as 

 that of the parrot or cockatoo, and for obvious reasons — the 

 first being made by Nature to tear flesh, the other to break 

 seeds and nuts, and act as the lever to climb by. 



The little quail, or partridge, are equally compactly built, 

 although wanting their length of wings, bill, and claws. The 

 owl, on the other hand, is loosely, almost slovenly, attired. 

 This, too, is obvious — to suit her silent, nocturnal flight in 

 search of mice, when the slightest noise would scare her tiny 

 prey — all different, yet all alike perfect, and peculiarly adapted 

 by the prudent foresight of wise, unerring Nature for the part 

 assigned by her to be played by each. 



After giving a brief synopsis of the Raptores, I shall then 

 begin with the first order, and describe each species, and tell 

 what I know about them, chiefly from my own observations. 

 The rest of the Orders shall be treated the same way when the 

 time comes to take each separately. I shall include in each 

 synopsis all the birds I know of personally, and all I know to 

 have been found in Britain ; but shall chiefly specify those I 

 have found myself, or known to have been found, around St 

 Andrews. By this means the book may answer the purpose of 

 a condensed history of the British birds. 



