GENERAL CHARACTERS. 87 



RAPACIOUS BEAKS. 

 Hawk. 



Owl. 



Eagle. 



The most obvious natural division is into preyers by day 

 (diurna), and preyers by night (nocturnes). The former are 

 falcons, known by different names, according to their struc- 

 ture, habits, and haunts; the latter are owls. The plumage 

 of the diurnal birds is firm, strong in the individual feathers, 

 and fitted for contending with the elements in ' bold and 

 daring flight; that of the nocturnal ones is "fined off" at the 

 extremities, into very delicate and almost invisible margins, 

 so that they steal through the air without any noise. The 

 former are free and elastic, and make the air rustle to the 

 torrent of their course, and ring to the dash of their wings ; 

 the latter glide along as if they were muffled, and come upon 

 even quick-eared prey before it is aware. 



There are about seventeen diurnal species enumerated as 

 British, and eight nocturnal ones. Of the falcons, four or 

 five are understood to be occasional visitants, and the others 

 to reside permanently in some part of the British islands ; 

 but some are rare and confined to particular districts, while 

 others are common. Six of the owls are inhabitants of the 

 moorland; and two ; which are arctic birds, and the most 



