156 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



powerful beak. The upper half of this organ is curved from the root, 

 sharply pointed at the end, and overhangs the lower half like a hook, 

 constituting a formidable weapon, by means of which the buzzard can 

 pierce the skull even of larger animals, such as hares or young deer. 

 At the root of the upper bill is found a yellow membrane called the cere. 



7. Prey of larger size is held fast with the feet, and torn by means of 

 ihv strong beak, the hooked point of the upper beak being specially called 

 into requisition for this purpose. Moreover, the sides of the upper beak 

 also project beyond those of the lower, and, both having sharp edges, act 

 like the blades of a pair of shears. 



8. Small animals, such as mice, are swallowed whole ; the jairs 

 accordingly are wide, and the oesophagus and stomach very distensible. 

 The stomach is thus thin-walled and sack-like, and not provided with 

 powerful muscles like that of grain-eating birds (see pigeon), the food 

 not being crushed up as in the latter, but dissolved by the acid juices of 

 the stomach, as in a chemical retort. Indigestible materials, such as 

 hairs, feathers, etc., are vomited in the form of pellets. 



9. The crop is a dilatation of the oesophagus, in which the buzzard 

 stores up such food as it cannot accommodate within the stomach. 



Other Species of Falconidae. 



A number of species of this family are found in Central Europe, all 

 of which resemble the common buzzard in their mode of life and structure 

 of body. Its nearest relative is the Honey Kite (Pernis apirorus), which 

 is of about the same size. The food of this bird consists chiefly of wasps, 

 bees, and humble-bees. It seizes the formidable insect so skilfully that 

 the sharp edges of its beak cut off a piece of the abdomen with the sting, 

 which falls to the ground ; for a sting in the mouth or gullet might be 

 fatal to the bird. 



THE COMMON KESTREL DURING FLIGHT. 



The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is of somewhat smaller 

 size than the buzzard. Its plumage is rufous above, on the under 



