ORDER RAPTORES; GENERAL CHARACTERS. 397 



office being to remove the decomposing flesh of the larger animals, 

 which would otherwise poison the atmosphere around. They do 

 not usually attempt to carry away these masses to their nests, 

 but content themselves with devouring as much as their stomachs 

 (which are very capacious) will hold ; and they consequently 

 require neither the same swiftness nor power of flight, that the 

 Falcons and Eagles possess. Lastly, the Owls, which are noc- 

 turnal Birds of Prey, obtain their food rather by the stealthiness 

 with which they approach it, than by the vigour with which 

 they attack it; and as it consists of small animals, they do not 

 require any considerable power of flight in order to carry it off. 

 The peculiar nature of their plumage is in manifest accordance 

 with these habits ; for the loose downy character of their wing- 

 feathers imparts to their flight an extraordinary noiselessness ; 

 whilst it prevents them from striking the air with any force. 



362. It is impossible not to recognise the obvious analogies 

 between the different groups of Carnivorous Mammalia, and 

 those of the Predacious Birds. The bold and powerful Eagles 

 obviously resemble the Lion and the other large Felines ; the 

 smaller and yet more active and sanguinary Falcons correspond 

 with the smaller Felines, and with the Mustelidae ; the cowardly 

 carrion-feeding Vultures resemble the Hyaena and Wild Dog ; 

 whilst the Owls may be likened to the nocturnal Viverridae. 

 We shall also find that there are certain species, which are aquatic 

 in their habits ; and which are parallel, therefore, to the Otters 

 and Seals. 



363. The RAPTORES always associate in pairs ; and it appears 

 that the same males and females live together during their whole 

 lives, instead of pairing afresh every season, which is the case 

 with many Birds of other orders. It is remarkable that, in a 

 large proportion of this order, the female is larger than the 

 male ; but the general rule holds good here as elsewhere, that 

 her plumage is less vivid in its colours. The Birds of prey are 

 seldom remarkable, however, for the brilliancy of their aspect ; 

 their feathers being generally of a brownish hue, more or less 

 varied with white. They are completely destitute of the power 

 of song ; a hoarse cry, or call- note, being all the sound that they 



