CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. RAPTORES, 



IT 





Tnc ICELAND FALCON. 



their prey almost entirely on the wing. Their food consists of quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, and in- 

 sects, which they seize by suddenly pouncing upon them in the air or on the ground; many 

 of the species also feed upon fishes, in pursuit of which they dash down with great force into 

 the water. Their victims are seized by the powerful curved and acute claws, the deadly gripe 

 of which generally destroys life immediately, but the bill is rarely used except to tear the flesh 

 of the prey after it has been secured in the talons. When the animal killed is of small com- 

 parative size, the birds generally carry it off to some quiet spot where they may feed upon it with- 

 out fear of interruption ; but when it is too large to be thus disposed of, they gorge themselves 

 with its flesh on the spot where it fell. In either case, however, they usually devour as much 

 of their victim as will completely fill the crop or dilated portion of the oesophagus, and then 

 always retire to some sequestered retreat, where they remain quiet imtil the food' is digested. 

 They generally remove a good portion of the hair or feathers from their prey before commenc- 

 ing their attack upon its flesh; but, notwithstanding, usually swallow some of these indigestible 

 Vol. II— 3. 



