11IXDS. 



in little bands in search of carrion. Vultures live in pairs ; they build theit 

 nests on inaccessible rocks, and construct them of pieces of wood, joined to- 

 gether by a sort of mortar. Their young, when born, are covered with down, 

 and are fed with half-digested food, which is disgorged by their parents before 

 them. 



Grri'Sons (Gyflaefos) in their conformation and habits very closely resemble 

 the vultures ; but they have their head and neck almost entirely covered with 

 feathers. To this tribe belongs the Ldmmer Geyer, the largest bird of prey 

 found on the Eastern continent, the higher mountain chains of which it in- 

 habits. It attacks lambs, goats, and chamois. Generally it endeavours to 

 make its victims throw themselves from precipitous rocks, and devours them 

 after they have been killed by their fall hence it was called by the Romans 

 Ossifraga, or the bone-breaker. 



FIG. 344. BARN OWL. 



NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



The nocturnal birds of prey have a very large head and a very 

 short neck ; the eyes are directed forwards and surrounded by a 

 circle of fringed feathers. The pupil of the eye is large, and the 

 sight imperfect in the day-time. The external toe can be directed 

 forwards or backwards at will. Their wings are strong, and the 

 wing-feathers have soft barbs, covered with a sort of down. These 

 birds are often designated under the collective name of 



The Owls ^Strix). They are blinded by broad day, and only see well in 

 the twilight or at night when it is not very dark, the time they choose for 

 hunting ; and as their silky feathers enable them to fly without noise, it is 



