396 ORDER RAPTORES ; GENERAL CHARACTERS. 



of those instinctive propensities, which manifest themselves in the 

 construction of their nests, and in their migrations. It is usual, 

 however, to commence with the order RAPTORES ; as being the 

 one that contains the most powerful species of the class. 



ORDER I. RAPTORES. 



361. The Birds of Prey are for the most part easily distin- 

 guished from all others, by their strong, curved, sharp-edged, and 

 sharp-pointed bills : of which the upper mandible is longer than 

 the lower, so as to form a sort of pointed hook, which is very 

 serviceable in tearing their prey ; whilst its edge is notched, so as 

 to form a kind of projecting tooth on either side. We shall 

 presently find that the degree in which these characters exist in 

 the several families of the order, corresponds closely with the 

 rapacity of their habits. The body is large and muscular ; sur- 

 passing in its dimensions that of nearly all other Birds. It is 

 supported upon robust legs, which are generally short (the 

 species which have long legs being aberrant forms of the order) ; 

 and the feet possess four strong toes, one of them directed back- 

 wards, which are all armed with long and crooked talons. Their 

 wings are usually large, and their flight prompt, rapid, and 

 powerful ; but in this respect there are considerable variations, 

 according to the habits of the several species, and the food on 

 which they are destined to exist. Thus, the true Falcons will 

 only devour (except in a domesticated state, or when hard- 

 pressed by hunger) the flesh of other Birds which they have 

 struck down on the wing ; and their whole conformation is 

 adapted for rapid and energetic flight. The Eagles also are des- 

 tined to feed upon the flesh of animals recently killed ; but they 

 will descend to the earth to obtain it, and often carry off the 

 bodies of Mammalia of considerable bulk ; their flight is not so 

 rapid as that of the Falcons, but it is very powerful, in order 

 that they may sustain great weights whilst on the wing. The 

 Vultures, on the other hand, gorge themselves on carrion ; their 



