48 BKITISH LAND BIRDS. 



that it could not fly without difficulty. On being 

 pursued, it took to flight ; but soon alighted again 

 on the beach, and was shot. It was one of the 

 smallest of the vulture kind, measuring only two 

 feet, three inches, from the tip of the beak to the 

 end of the tail ; whereas, the great condor of 

 South America sometimes measures twelve feet, 

 from tip to tip, of its outspread wings. 



The FALCON tribe, is divided into numerous 

 families. Eagles, falcons, hawks, kites, buzzards, 

 and harriers ; all of which have these distinguish- 

 ing characters in common, by which they are 

 readily known. The bill is strong, sharp, and 

 much hooked ; and is furnished with a naked skin 

 at the base, in which the nostrils are placed. The 

 head and neck are well clothed with feathers, 

 while those of the vulture are more or less naked. 

 The legs and feet are scaly, and the claws large 

 and strong, hooked, and very sharp. Unlike 

 most other kinds, the female of birds of prey is 

 larger and stronger than the male. 



It has been happily remarked that the rapacious 

 birds, of which the EAGLE is the chief, bear a strong 

 typical resemblance to the carnivorous animals. 

 The dispositions of both are fierce and intractable, 

 their frames are strong and sinewy, well adapted 

 for swift pursuit and powerful action. The sight 



