BOOK II 



OF RAPACIOUS BIRDS, 



CHAPTER I. 



OP RAPACIOUS BIRDS IN GENERAL.* 



THERE seems to obtain a general resemblance in all the classes r) ia. 

 Jure. As among quadrupeds, a part were seen to live upon the v*ge. 

 table productions of the earth, and another part upon the flesh of eacn 

 other ; so among birds, some live upon vegetable food, and others by 

 rapine, destroying all such as want force or swiftness to procure theif 

 safety. By thus peopling the woods with animals of different dispo- 

 sitions, nature has wisely provided for the multiplication of life ; since, 

 could we suppose that there were as many animals produced as there 

 were vegetables supplied to sustain them, yet there might still be an- 

 other class of animals formed, which could find a sufficient sustenarice 

 by feeding upon such of the vegetable feeders as happened to fall !-_y 

 the course of nature. By this contrivance, a greater number will bo 

 sustained upon the whole ; for the numbers would be but very this 

 were every creature a candidate for the same food. Thus, by supply, 

 ing a variety of appetites, nature has also multiplied life in her pro- 

 ductions. 



In thus varying their appetites, nature has also varied the form o 

 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 rapacious kinds are furnished with a large head, and 

 a strong crooked beak, notched at the end, for the purpose of tearing 

 their prey. They 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 

 astonishingly quick ; and such as ravage by night, have their sight so 

 fitted as to see objects in darkness with extreme precision. 



The animals of this order are all carnivorous: they associate in pairs, build their 

 nests in the most lofty situations, and produce generally four young ones at a brood ; and 

 the female is mostly larger than the male. They consist of vulture*, eagles, hawks, ana 



