ACCIPITRES. 245 
Grallatoriz, or Waders ; but its legs completely invested with 
feathers, its hooked and cleft beak, projecting eye-lids, and all 
its anatomical details place itin the present order. The tarsus 
is scutellated, its toes short in proportion, and the circumfer- 
ence of the eye naked ; it has a long stiff crest on the occiput, 
and the two intermediate quills of the tail extend much beyond 
the others. It inhabits the dry and open grounds in the 
vicinity of the Cape, where it hunts reptiles on foot ; its claws 
consequently become much worn. Its chief strength lies in the 
leg. It is the Falco serpentarius of Gmel. Enl. 7215 Vieill. 
Galer. 260. The inhabitants of Martinique have endeavoured to 
multiply the breed, in order to destroy the Lance-headed Viper 
with which that island is infested. 
THE NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 
Have a large head; great eyes, directed forwards, sur- 
rounded by a circle of fringed feathers, the anterior of which 
cover the cera of the beak, and the posterior, the opening of 
the ear. Their enormous pupil permits the entrance of so 
many rays of light, that they are dazzled by that of day. 
Their cranium, which is thick, but formed of a light substance, 
is excavated by large sinuses, which communicate with the 
ear, and which probably assist in strengthening the sense of 
hearing ; but the organs of flight are not very vigorous ; their 
fourchette is weak ; their feathers being soft, and covered with 
a fine down, make no noise in flying. They can direct their 
external toe either forwards or backwards. ‘These birds are 
chiefly on the wing during twilight, and when the moon shines. 
When attacked in the day time, they do not fly off, but stand 
more erect, assume odd postures, and make the most ludicrous 
gestures. P 
Their gizzard is tolerably muscular, although their prey is 
wholly animal, consisting in mice, small birds, and insects; 
but it is preceded by a large crop; their ceca are long and 
wide at bottom, &e. Small birds have a natural antipathy to 
them, and frequently assemble from all quarters to attack 
them. They form but one genus, 
Strix, ‘Lin. 
Which may be divided by their tufts, the size of their ears, the extent 
