ORDER RAPTORES: birds of prey. 



Char.— Base of upper mandible with a soft skin or cere. Upper mandible 

 compressed ; its point curving down over that of the lower, forming a strong, sharp 

 hook. Toes, four, one behind. Size usually large, and frame powerful. Female 

 bird the larger, except in the Vultures. This order embraces the so-called Birds 

 of Prey.* 



These birds may be separated into two sub-orders, namely : — ■ 



A. True birds of prey, whicli catch their victims alive, and are 



distinguished by their powerful bills, claws, and powers of 

 flight. 



B. Carrion-eaters, feeding on dead animals, having comparatively 



weak bills, long, straight claws, and heavy flight. 



Species are found in all parts of the world. They are anala- 

 gous to the Rapacia among mammals, and their particular office in 

 the economy of nature is to keep in check the excessive increase 

 of the smaller kinds of animals. The carrion-eaters are chiefly 

 limited to the warm climates. 



The Birds of Prey embrace three great families : 



The VuLTURiD.E, or Vultures. 



The Falconid.e, or Falcons and allies. 



The Strigid.e, or Owls. 



Of these, the first two are known as the Duirnal, and the last as 

 the Nocturnal birds of prey. 



The VuLTURiD.E comprise three genera of which only one is 

 represented in Canada, namely, the genus Cathartes, to which 

 belongs the Turkey Buzzard or Turkey Vulture, C. aura, IHig. 

 This species is described as inhabiting "all North America, except 

 the Arctic regions." It is, however, rarely met with in Canada 



* Here, ami in the following pages of this work, the general, generic, and specific characters 

 are from the standard works of Cassin and Baird, except where otherwise expressly mentioned. 



