ZOOLOGY. 



have three toes before and one behind, and all 

 four are armed with strong claws, giving the 

 animal the power of clinging to the faces 01 

 perpendicular rocks and buildings. The Martin 

 \Htrundo urbicd) builds its mud-nest in the 

 sheltered angles of buildings. 



The Swifts (CMuelidce) differ from all other 

 birds in having all the four toes directed forwards. 

 The Common Swift (C. opus) possesses more 

 enduring powers of flight than the swallow, which 

 is often seen on its long journeys to fall wearied 

 into the sea. The nest of a species of swallow 

 (Collocalia esculenta), from the Indian Archipelago, 

 is used by the Chinese for making soup. The 

 nests are composed of a mucilaginous substance, 

 which is secreted by greatly developed salivary 

 glands, and is more or less mixed with grass and 

 other similar materials. 



The Goat-suckers (Caprimulgidcs) have large 

 eyes, a soft plumage, and fly 'in the dusk, and 



Common Goatsucker (Caprimulgus Europceus). 



feed on insects, which they seize on the wing. 

 They derive their name from the absurd belief of 

 the ancients, that they injured the teats of goats 

 in their attempts to suck them. Only one species 

 (C. Europtzus) is found in Britain. It arrives 

 from Africa in May, and takes its departure in 

 September. 



The Bee-eaters (Meropidee) are so named because 

 they feed on bees, which they pursue much in the 

 manner of swallows. In spring, they cross the 

 Mediterranean from Africa to the south of Europe, 

 where they breed. 



The Kingfishers (Alcedinidce) are generally 

 natives of warm climates. The Common King- 

 fisher (Alcedo ispidd) lives upon small fish, and 

 may be seen perching on the stump of a tree 

 which overhangs a stream, watching the minnows, 

 on which it darts with unerring aim. It then 

 returns to its perch, beats its victim to death, and 

 swallows it. The Laughing Jackass (Dalas gigas) 

 of Australia, whose song resembles a lengthened 

 hysterical laugh, belongs to this family. 



Raptores, or Birds of Prey. 



ORDER 6. The Raptores are designed to feed 

 on the weaker animals of their own and other tribes. 

 Their bill is strong, hooked, and sharp pointed. 

 Their talons are sharp, and more or less retractile. 

 They are very muscular birds, and strong on the 

 wing. The female is larger than the male. They 

 form pairs, live solitarily, and do not breed large 

 families. This order comprises two sections. 



Section i. Nocturnal Raptores which hunt by 

 night, and have the eyes directed forward. It 

 includes the single family Strigidce (Owls). They 

 hunt their prey by night, and their flight is noise- 



I. Great Eagle or Owl (Bubo maximus) ; 2. Long-eared 

 Owl (Otus vulgaris); 3. White or Bam Owl (Strix 

 flammea) ; 4. Foot of Snowy Owl. (Strix nyctea). 



less, as their feathers are very loose and soft 

 Owls in ancient times were regarded as emblems 

 of wisdom. This family contains only a single 

 genus Strix, which is divided into two sections- 

 Horned or Eared Owls, which have a tuft of long 

 feathers on each side of the forehead ; including 

 the Long-eared Owl (Otus vulgaris}, and the 

 Short-eared Owl (O. brachyotus), which are British 

 species ; and the Horned Owl (Bubo maximus), 

 which is common in the forests of Europe ; and 

 the Smooth-headed Owls, which are destitute of 

 these appendages, represented by the Barn Owl 

 (Strix flammed}, which subsists upon mice and 

 small birds, which it swallows whole. The bones 

 and other indigestible parts are afterwards dis- 

 gorged in small pellets. 



Section 2. Diurnal Raptores in which the eyes 

 are placed laterally, and smaller than in the former 

 -;roup, and the plumage is not soft. 



The Falconidce or Accipitrina: (Hawks, Falcons, 

 Eagles) have the upper mandible notched, and 

 their claws strong and retractile. The head and 

 neck are always clothed with feathers. Their 

 flight is graceful, and their courage very great 

 The Falcons proper (Falconida) are specially 

 adapted to pursue and bring down their prey on 

 the wing. The Eagles (Aquilince) are the largest 

 and most powerful of the whole group, and pursue 

 and destroy quadrupeds as well as birds. Their 

 egs are feathered quite down to the toes. They 

 build their nests in lofty and secluded situations, 

 among mountains and precipices, and resist with 

 great courage any attack upon their young. The 

 Hawks, Harriers (Circina>), and Kites (Milvinee) 

 also belong to the family. The Kites have the 

 power of hovering balanced on their wings for 

 a longer time than any of the known birds. 

 The Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus} is aquatic in its 

 habits, living upon the sea-shore, and subsisting 

 Drincipally on fish. It is at once distinguished by 

 the roughness of the under surface of the foot, 

 which assists it in holding its slippery prey. 



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