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and movement. The geese proper are the most generalized members 

 of the order, and are intermediate between the swans and the ducks 

 in their characters, especially in the length of the neck. Some of the 

 ducks are among the most brilliant in plumage among birds. Few 

 handsomer vertebrates exist than the male mandarin duck. The 

 eider ducks are natives of the north and are the most widely known 

 and highly prized members of the duck family. The mergansers or 

 fish-ducks differ from the true ducks in having more slender bodies, 

 long compressed bills, and grebe-like necks, and in having the edges of 

 the bill serrated so as to give the impression that they have teeth. 

 On account of their fish-eating habits they are not nearly so desirable 

 for food as are most of the ducks and geese, which are largely gram- 

 eniferous. 



FALCON-LIKE BIRDS OR BIRDS OF PREY (FALCONIFORMES) 



Just as the great carnivores among mammals are designated as the 

 " kings of beasts," so the great birds of prey (eagles, hawks, falcons, 

 etc.) are " kings among birds." The members of this order are char- 

 acterized by hooked, raptorial beak, strong talons, large crop and 

 predaceous habits. So much are the eagles objects of human admira- 

 tion that they have been chosen as emblems of empire; even our 

 own naturally peaceful commonwealth is proud to be represented by 

 the king of American eagles. The order Falconiformes falls into 

 three subdivisions, represented respectively by: the American vul- 

 tures; the secretary bird of Africa; and the falcons, eagles, hawks, 

 buzzards, Old World vultures, etc . 



The American vultures are large birds with wonderful powers of 

 flight, though somewhat sluggish in habit. The common turkey 

 buzzard is the most conspicuous example of this division and is 

 a familiar part of the scenery in most of our Southern States. They 

 are economically of considerable importance on account of their 

 effective work as scavengers, and on this account there are laws pro- 

 tecting them from marksmen. In spite of their value as sanitary 

 agents they are generally looked down upon because of their disgust- 

 ing feeding habits and because they have a trick of vomiting upon 

 their adversaries. If the truth were known it would probably be 

 found that the buzzard is a victim of chronic dyspepsia due to the 

 unwholesome character of its food, and that it accepts with gratitude 

 any offerings of fresh meat that may come its way. It is said to eat 



