THE ALLIES OF THE PIGEON: AVES 



383 



FIG. 200. Head of Golden Eagle 



in a single tree. Owing to the increased demand for both 

 young and adults as food they were slaughtered indiscrimi- 

 nately and have since 

 been nearly extermi- 

 nated. 



Hawks, Eagles, 

 Owls, and Vultures. 

 The Rapto'res (Lat. 

 raptor, robber) are 

 generally spoken of 

 as birds of prey, 

 though the term is 

 equally applicable to 

 some members of 

 other groups, the 

 gulls among the long-winged swimmers, for example. The 

 beak is stout, strong, and sharply hooked (Fig. 200); the toes, 



arranged three in front and one 

 behind, are provided with strong, 

 sharp, curved claws (Fig. 201) 

 with which to seize their living 

 prey, except in the vultures, 

 which feed on carrion. The 

 Raptores possess great powers 

 of flight. The female is larger 

 than the male. The nests are 

 generally bulky structures, com- 

 posed of sticks and placed in 

 tall trees or on rocky cliffs. 



The red-tailed and the 

 red-shouldered hawks are gener- 

 ally termed " hen-hawks " or " chicken-hawks " by farmers. 

 Though they occasionally levy tribute on the chicken-yard, 

 their propensities in this direction are not so marked as is the 



FIG. 201. Claw of Golden Eagle 



