30 BIRDS OF PREY. 



LESSON III. 



ORDER OF RAPACES, (or jJccipitres) Zoological Characters. 

 Habits. Division into two Families. 



FAMILY OF DIURNJE. Zoological Characters and Habits of Vul 

 tines, ( Yellow Vulture, King of the Vultures, Condor, Perc 

 nopterus of Egypt.) Griffins Tribe of Falcons Division 

 into two groupes, noble and ignoble. Falconry, {Common 

 Falcon) Eagles. Fisher- Eagles. Sparrow-Hawks. Kite* 

 Buzzards. Harriers. Characters and Habits. 



FAMILY OF NOCTURNE. Characters and Habits. (Owl. Strix. 

 Due.) 



ORDER OF RAPACES, OR ACCIPITRES. 



(Birds of Prey.} 



1. Birds of Prey are recognised by their beak, being hooked 

 and terminated by a point which is sharp and bent downward^ 

 and by their feet being very strong and armed with powerful, 

 hooked nails. (I* late 3,/fy 1, to 8.') 



2. They are generally remarkable for their strength; the 

 muscles of their thighs and legs are very voluminous and give 

 great power to their talons ; their tarsi are rarely elongated : all 

 of them have four toes, the first of which, or thumb, is directed 

 backwards ; the nails of this toe, and of the internal toe are the 

 strongest, and there is often a very small palmate membrane 

 betwixt the bases of the external toes. Their wings are large, 

 and the sternum, which affords place for the attachment of the 

 principal muscles of flight, is generally very much developed and 

 without lateral notches. 



3. It is also to be remarked that their nares are pierced 

 through a membrane, called Cera, that covers the whole base oi 

 the beak. - 



4. All the Rapaces live exclusively on flesh ; they pursue 

 other birds and even small quadrupeds and reptiles; they are 

 also very powerful in flight. 



1. How are the birds of pr y characterised? 



2. What are the characters of the legs of birds of prey ? What is the 

 number of their toes ? What is their direction ? What is the character ol 

 Ihe sternum ? 



3. What is meant by the cera? 



4. Oi what do the Rapaces feed ? 



