414 



DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



FlG. 341. GOLDEN EAGLE. 



The Fisher Eagles (Halietus) keep near the margin of the sea, and 

 live principally upon fish. 



The Great Harpy of America (Falco harpyia) is superior in size to 

 the Common Eagle. Of all birds, this possesses the most terrific 

 beak and claws. Such is its strength, that it is said to have cleft a 

 man's skull with its beak ; its ordinary food is the Sloth, and it often 

 carries off fawns. 



The Falcons (Falco} are remarkable on account of their projecting 

 eyebrows, which make the eyes appear as if deeply sunk in the 

 head, and give to the physiognomy an appearance altogether 

 different from that of the Vultures. They have a lofty, rapid, 

 sustained flight ; then* sense of sight is more extended and clearer 

 than that of any other animal, enabling them to perceive the 

 smallest prey, when they themselves are out of sight. Most 

 of them feed on the flesh of victims newly killed by their own 

 talons, but when pressed by hunger, they do not refuse dead animals. 

 Instead of eating food on the spot as Vultures do, they bear it off to 

 their eyry. The largest species attack quadrupeds and birds, others 

 feed on reptiles, some live on fishes, and others are entirely insectivo- 

 rous. They all seize their prey with their feet. Some, as the Falcon 

 and the Kite, precipitate themselves perpendicularly upon their 

 game ; others (the Buzzards and the Gos-hawks) attack obliquely or 

 sideways. They are generally silent, and very difficult to tame ; but 

 some of them are trained to hunt on the wing. 



