248 VERTEBRATA. AVES. 



open the birds, divide the tendons and ligaments, 

 and, when scarcity of prey renders economy neces- 

 sary, it can separate all the joints, and leave not an 

 atom of eatable matter on the bones."* The beak 

 of this bird, as in all the genus, is armed near the 

 tip with a sharp tooth, received into an answering 

 notch in the lower mandible. The genus evidently 

 represents the Cats, as the Vultures do the Hyenas 

 and Dogs. They range over a great geographical 

 extent, but chiefly inhabit northern regions. The 

 Jer-Falcon is the largest of the " noble " birds of 

 prey, as the Merlin (F. ^Esalori) is the smallest. 

 The latter, from its diminutive size, being no larger 

 than a Blackbird, and, from its gentle docility, was 

 the favourite of the ladies, a character alluded to 

 in the beautiful lines of Spenser : 



A Merlin small she held upon her hand, 

 With hood and Jessie gallantly bedight ; 

 But little did he need or hood or band ; 

 Could he but gaze on her, full safe were he from flight. 



Aquila^ the Eagle. 



Stern and unsociable in their character, yet con- 

 fident in their great strength, and efficient means 

 of defence, the Eagles delight to dwell in the 

 solitude of inaccessible rocks, on whose summits they 

 build their rude nest, and sit in lone majesty, while 

 with their keen and piercing eye they sweep the 

 plains below, even to the horizon. Hence, bold and 



* Mudie, Birds, p. 1 68. f Its Latin name. 



