A HISTORY OF RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 



471 



OF RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 



CHAPTER LXXXI. 



OF RAPACIOUS BIRDS IN GENERAL. 



THERE seems to obtain a general resem- 

 blance in all the classes of nature. As among 

 quadrupeds, a part were seen to live upon the 

 vegetable productions of the earth, and another 

 part upon the flesh of each other ; so among 

 birds, some live upon vegetable food, and 

 others by rapine, destroying all such as want 

 force or swiftness to procure their safety. By 

 thus peopling the woods with animals of dif- 

 ferent dispositions, nature has wisely provided 

 for the multiplication of life ; since, could we 

 suppose that there were as many animals pro- 

 duced as there were vegetables supplied to 

 sustain them, yet there might still be another 

 class of animals formed, which could find a 

 sufficient sustenance by feeding upon such of 

 the vegetable feeders as happened to fall by 

 the course of nature. By this contrivance, a 

 greater number will be sustained upon the 

 whole ; for the numbers would be but very 

 thin were every creature a candidate for the 

 same food. Thus, by supplying a variety of 

 appetites, nature has also multiplied life in her 

 productions. 



In thus varying thnr appetites, nature has 

 also varied the form of the animal ; and while 

 she has given some an instinctive passion for 

 animal food, she has also furnished them with 

 powers to obtain it. All land-birds of the ra- 

 pacious kinds are furnished with a large head, 

 and a strong crooked beak, notched at the end, 

 for the purpose of tearing their prey. They 



The animals of this order are all carnivorous ; they 

 associate in pairs, build their nests in the most lofty situa- 

 tions, and produce generally four young ones at a brood : 

 and the female is mostly larger than the male. They 

 Consist of vultures, eagles, hawks, and owls. 



have strong short legs, and sharp crooked 

 talons, for the purpose of seizing it. Their 

 bodies are formed for war, being fibrous and 

 muscular ; and their wings for swiftness of 

 flight, being well feathered and expansive. 

 The sight of such as prey by day is astonish- 

 ingly quick ; and such as ravage by night, 

 have their sight so fitted as to see objects in 

 darkness with extreme precision. 



Their internal parts are equally formed for 

 the food they seek for. Their stomach is 

 simple and membranous, and wrapt in fat to 

 increase the powers of digestion ; and their 

 intestines are short and glandular. As their 

 food is succulent and juicy, they want no 

 length of intestinal tube to form it into proper 

 nourishment. Their food is flesh; which does 

 not require a slow digestion to be converted 

 into a similitude of substance to their own. 



Thus formed for war, they lead a life of 

 solitude and rapacity. They inhabit by choice 

 the most lonely places, and the most desert 

 mountains. They make their nests in the 

 clefts of rocks, and on the highest and most 

 inaccessible trees of the forest. Whenever 

 they appear in the cultivated plain or the 

 warbling grove, it is only for the purposes of 

 depredation ; and are gloomy intruders on the 

 general joy of the landscape. They spread 

 terror wherever they approach : all that variety 

 of music which but a moment before enliven- 

 ed the grove, at their appearing is instantly at 

 an end : every order of lesser birds seek for 

 safety, either by concealment or flight ; and 

 some are even driven to take protection with 

 man, to avoid their less merciful pursuers. 



It would indeed be fatal to all the smaller 

 race of birds, if, as they are weaker than all. 



