RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 69 



vulture kind, the horned, and the screech owl 

 kind. The distinctive marks of this class are 

 taken from their claws and beak : their toes are 

 separated ; their legs are feathered to the heel ; 

 their toes are four in number, three before, one 

 behind ; their beak is short, thick, and crooked. 



The eagle kind is distinguished from the rest 

 by his beak, which is straight, till towards the 

 end, when it begins to hook downwards. 



The vulture kind is distinguished by the head 

 and neck ; he is without feathers. 



The hawk kind by the beak ; being hooked 

 from the very root. 



The horned owl by the feathers at the base of 

 the bill standing forwards ; and by some feathers 

 on the head, that stand out, resembling horns. 



The screech owl by the feathers at the base of 

 the bill standing forward, and being without horns. 

 A description of one in each kind will serve for 

 all the rest. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE EAGLE AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



THE Golden Eagle is the largest and the noblest 

 of all those birds that have received the name -of 

 Eagle. It weighs above twelve pounds. Its 

 length is three feet ; the extent of its wings seven 

 feet four inches ; the bill is three inches long, 

 and of a deep blue colour ; and the eye of a hazel 



