RAPTORES. 



531 



neck are always clothed with feathers, and the eyes are more 

 or less sunk in the head, and provided with a superciliary ridge 

 or eyebrow. It is to a great extent to the presence of this 

 ,ridge that many of these birds owe their fearless and bold 

 expression. In this family are the Falcons, Hawks, Buzzards, 

 Kites, Harriers, and Eagles, most of which are so well known 

 that any description is unnecessary. 



In the Vulturida (fig. 231) the eyes are destitute of an eye- 

 brow, and the head and neck are frequently naked, or covered 

 only by a short down. In this family are the Bearded Vul- 

 tures, the true Vultures, and the Condor. 



The Bearded Vulture, or Lammergeyer (Gypa'ttos barbatus). 

 is the largest of European birds, measuring from nine to ten 

 feet from the tip of one wing to that of the other. This power- 

 ful and rapacious bird inhabits the mountain-ranges of the 

 south of Europe and the west of Asia, and feeds chiefly on 

 goats, lambs, and deer, which it kills by precipitating down 

 steep declivities. It is distinguished from the true Vultures by 

 the fact that the head and neck are feathered. 



The true Vultures have the head, and generally the neck 

 also, naked, or covered with down. They are filthy and dis- 

 gusting birds, which live almost entirely upon carrion, a pecu- 

 liarity which renders them of great service in hot climates. 



The Secretary Vultures (Serpentarius) are distinguished -by 



Fig. 232. Archczopteryx macrura, showing tail and tail-feathers, with detached bones. 



their very long and slender legs, unfeathered tarso-metatarsus, 

 and long wings armed with blunt spines. They are found in 



