85 



RAPTORES, OR BIRDS OF PREY.* 



THE order Raptor es^ or Birds of Prey, 

 has hitherto been placed first in our systems, 

 though among quadrupeds, many writers have 

 chosen to place the quadruminous animals, which 

 are analogous to the perching birds, or second 

 order in the arrangement, at the commencement. 

 This, though of little consequence in one respect, 

 shews an irregularity of system which it would be 

 better to avoid ; and placing the Raptores first 

 now, is done with the intention, that the Ferae, 

 their representatives among the Mammalia, should 

 stand in a similar situation. 



Among most of the ornithological writers, 

 previous to 1800, this first order was made to 

 contain three very natural families, the vultures, 



\Ve must here offer our acknowledgments to William 

 Thompson, Esq. of Belfast, for all the information we 

 have been able to give regarding the Raptores of Ireland. 

 That gentleman has kindly communicated to us the results 

 of his observations on this part of the Fauna of Ireland ; 

 and we have strong anticipations that ere long he will 

 advance our knowledge of the Fauna upon an equality 

 with what Mr Mackay has done for that of the Flora. See 

 the detailed paper, Mag. Zool. et Dot. ii. p. 42. 



