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FALCONID^E. 



THE Falconidae are the typical, consequently 

 the most numerous family of the Raptorial birds. 

 They represent here the more noble Felidaa 

 among the Ferae, as the vultures did the more 

 ignoble carcase devouring dogs, wolves and 

 hyenas of the same family. Their prey is almost 

 always seized by their own energies, either on 

 the wing, or pounced on by surprise in cover, 

 or on the ground ; it consists of nearly the whole 

 animal kingdom, quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, 

 fishes, and the larger species of insects. One or 

 two examples, however, do occur among the 

 most aberrant groups in foreign countries, where 

 carrion, or at least animals which the birds have 

 not themselves destroyed, serve as food, and 

 we have observed an occasional instance of it in 

 the common harrier of Europe, (circus cyaneus?) 

 feeding on the fish which remained dead about 

 the stake nets during the reflux of the tide. 

 Confinement immediately so far changes the 

 nature of all,* that dead food is eagerly seized 



* Audubon, speaking of the Great-footed Hawk, (Pere- 

 grine Falcon,) remarks, " They occasionally feed on dead 



