FALCONHXE. 103 



but they also contain many foreign genera, by 

 which their connection can only be satisfactorily 

 made out. 



The Typical or Falconine division, tne 



FALCONINJE, FALCONS, 



is seen in the Jer and Peregrine Falcons, the 

 Merlin, &c. and in these we have the form for 

 rapine developed to the utmost ; compact, power- 

 ful, muscular ; the bill strong, with a lacerating 

 tooth ; the wings pointed, -the quills of firm tex- 

 ture, the second and third longest ; the legs and 

 feet very muscular, the latter with the clawa 

 formed for grasping strongly ; the manner of 

 flying rapid, decided, not gliding or soaring in 

 watch ; the prey almost always struck during 

 flight ; breeding places most generally precipitous 

 rocks. 



The colour of the eggs of birds is nearly con- 

 stant in the greater divisions, and the family to 

 which any species belongs may be known with 

 tolerable certainty from the form and markings, 

 and general colour of the eggs. In illustration ot 

 this we shall introduce into these volumes figures 

 of the eggs of the principal groups of our native 

 birds. Among the true Falcons the egg is always 

 rather round in form, the prevailing colour dif- 

 ferent shades of reddish brown, with numerous 

 irregular markings of a darker shade ; and the 



