DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANISMS. 183 



off again in the poultry, and these again in the pigeons. At 

 the same time, intelligence and the tendency to domesticity 

 always increase. 



The Second great stirps is composed of birds destined by 

 their organization and dispositions to act as destructives over 

 the rest. Its chief subdivision commences in a swimming 

 family (ProcellaridcR), of which the huge Albatross, with its 

 ten feet expanse of wings and its great hooked bill, is an 

 example. The tendency of this family was not generally to 

 low shores, but to cliffy wildernesses. Accordingly it passed 

 through no wading forms, unless the solitary species, the 

 Secretary of India and the Mauritius, be an exception. It 

 passed at once into the majestic Eagle, the grandest of all 

 birds, and a terrible image of unrelenting destructiveness. 

 Some of the aquiline genus, as the Osprey, still haunt the 

 shores and rivers, while others take up their abode in inland 

 and generally Alpine grounds, frequenting the plains only 

 for the sake of prey. The Kites and Buzzards show an 

 affinity, as of descent, to the Eagles. Another subdivision 

 presents, in suite, the Falcons (including hawks), and the 

 Owls (Strigidce), the latter being addicted to living near the 

 haunts of men and pursuing prey by night. A link between 

 the two is seen in the peregrine falcon, both in its owlish 

 visage and its inclination to live in tall buildings. 



Another swimming family, composed of the Pelicans and 

 Cormorants (Pelicanidce), gives rise to the Vultures ; and 

 thus is completed the raptorial stirps. 



The Third stirps is in some respects the most remarkable 

 of all. It spreads out into a much greater variety of species 

 than either of the other two ; it is diffused over every 

 country of the globe. On the whole, it may be described as 

 omnivorous, though some genera are exclusively flesh-eaters, 

 and even distinguished by their predaceous and sanguinary 

 character. Hopping is a prevailing, though not exclusive, 

 mo.le of progression. The birds are generally, though not in 

 every instance, remarkable for their wariness and vivacity; 

 some are noted for their chattering and imitative powers ; 



