RAPTORES. 



465 



an incomplete or complete " disc " or circle round each eye 

 (fig. 1 8 1, B), and a circle of plumes is likewise placed round 

 each external meatus auditorius. The legs are short and 

 strong, and are furnished with four toes, all armed with strong 

 crooked talons. The outer toe can be turned backwards, so 

 that the foot has some resemblance to that of the Scansores. 

 The tarso-metatarsus is densely feathered (fig. 181, A), and the 

 plumes sometimes extend to the extremities of the toes. The 

 oesophagus is not dilated into a crop; and the indigestible 

 portions of the food are rejected by regurgitation from the 

 stomach in the form of small pellets. The Owls hunt their 

 prey in the twilight or on moonlight nights, and they live 

 mostly upon field-mice and small birds, though they will also 

 eat insects or frogs. 



Fig. 181. A, Foot of tawny Owl (Ulula stridula); B, Head of white Owl 

 (Strix Jlammea). 



The section of the Diurnal Raptores in eludes the two groups 

 of the Acdpitrince (Falcons, Hawks, and Eagles), and the Vul- 

 turidce, or Vultures. The eyes in this section are much smaller 

 than in the preceding, and are placed laterally ; and the plum- 

 age is not soft. As regards their power of flight, they show 

 a decided advance upon the Nocturnal Birds of Prey. The 

 wings are long and pointed ; the sternal keel and pectoral 

 muscles are greatly developed ; and many of the members of 

 this section exhibit a more rapid power of locomotion than is 

 seen in any other division of the animal kingdom. The bill is 

 long and strong, with a large " cere " at the base of the upper 

 mandible, in which the nostrils are pierced. The tarso-meta- 

 tarsus and toes are usually covered by scales, and are rarely 

 feathered. Lastly, the oesophagus is dilated into a capacious 

 crop. 



VOL. II. 2 G 



