30 BIRDS OF PREY. 



LESSON III. 



ORDER OF RAPACES, (or *flccipitres} Zoological Characters.- 

 Habits. Division into two Families. 



FAMILY OF DIURISME. Zoological Characters and Habits of Vul- 

 tures, ( Yellow Vulture, King of the Vultures, Condor, Ptrc- 

 nopteivs of Egypt. ) Griffins Tribe of Falcons Division 

 into tico grou/tes, noble find ignoble. Falconry, (Common 

 Falcon) Eagles. Fisher- Eagles. Sparrow-Hawks. 'Kites 

 Buzzards. Harriers. Characters and Habits. 



FAMILY OF NOCTURNE. Characters and Habits. (Owl. Strix. 

 Due.) 



OBDER OF RAPACES, OR ACCIPITRES. 



(Birds of Prey.} 



1. Birds of Prey are recognised by their beak, being hooked 

 and terminated by a point which is sharp and bent downwards, 

 and by their feet being very strong and armed with powerful, 

 hooked nails. (l j late 3,fg I, to 8.) 



2. They are generally remarkable for their strength; the 

 muscles of their thighs and legs are very voluminous and give 

 great power to their talons ; their tarsi are rarely elongated : all 

 of them have four toes, the first of which, or thumb, is directed 

 backwards ; the nails of this toe, and of the internal toe are the 

 strongest, and there is often a very small palmate membrane 

 betwixt the bases of the external toes. Their wings are large, 

 and the sternum, which affords place for the attachment of the 

 principal muscles of flight, is generally very much developed and 

 without lateral notches. 



3. It is also to be remarked that their nares are pierced 

 through a membrane, called Cera, that covers the whole base of 

 the beak. 



4. All the Rapaces live exclusively on flesh ; they pursue 

 other birds and even small quadrupeds and reptiles: they are 

 also very powerful in flight. 



1. How are the birds of prpy characterised? 



2. What are the characters of the legs of birds of prey ? What is the 

 number of their toes ? What is their direction ? What is the character of 

 the sternum ? 



3. What is meant by the cera ? 



4. On what do the Rapaces feed ? 



