(A.) LAND BIRDS. 



I. BIRDS OF PREY * 



BTBDS of prey, which live on flesh, or by slaughter of other 

 animals, have a curved, hooked beak, and strong feet, with 

 sharp claws. These birds are used in falconry and bird- 

 catching ; as, for instance, many kinds of falcons are trained 

 to seize other birds ; and as Owls are used to attract small 

 birds to the barn-floor trap, and Rooks to the decoy hut. As 

 birds of prey neither sing nor learn to speak, are copious in 

 their excrements, and generally difficult to tame, it is not 

 probable that amateurs will often wish to keep them. There 

 are, however, three species, which, on account of their beauty, 

 facility of domestication, or engaging habits, form exceptions 

 to this rule, namely, the Kestril, the White Owl, and the Little 

 Owl. 



ADDITIONAL. "Birds of this order," says MACGILLIVBAY, 

 "occur in all countries, and are characterized by their rapacious 

 habits, solitary disposition, great quickness of sight, and powerful 

 flight. They may be arranged in three families: Vulturince, Fal- 

 conintB, and Strigince, representatives of all of which occur in 

 Britain. Of the first, however, only a single individual is recorded 

 as having been obtained in England ; but of the second, nineteen, 

 and of the third ten species, belong to our Fauna." Raptrices, 

 or Plunderers, is the term applied by this author, as by several 

 others, to the present order of birds. 



* Accipitres. Raubrosel, BECHSTEIN. 



