THE BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Ord. RAPTORES,— Birds of Prey. 



Syn. AcciPiTRES, Lin. Kapaces, Raptatores of some. 



Bill strong, covered at the base with a cere or naked mem- 

 brane, strongly hooked at the tip, nostrils open ; legs strong and 

 muscular; toes four, three in front and one behind, on the same 

 plane, more or less rough beneath, and with strong, generally 

 well-curved, and sharp claws. 



The Rapacious birds agree with the Insessores in having all their 

 toes upon one plane, but differ in their strong bill and strong feet, 

 with curved claws, and from all but the Parrots in the cere at the 

 base of the bill. They agree also with the Insessores in having 

 only twelve cervical vertebra (except among the Vultures) and in 

 not having more than twelve tail feathers, again except some of the 

 Vultures. Their upper mandible is always longer than the lower 

 one, hooked at the tip and pointed, and the edges are frequently 

 furnished with a sharp tooth (sometimes two), and at other times 

 with a blunt festoon or sinuation, well fitted for tearing their 

 tough prey. They have large wings of ten primaries, often very 

 long ; the wing coverts are large, and their muscular power great, 

 giving them a powerful flight, capable, in some, of great speed, in 

 others, of long and sustained flight. The tail is often long, almost 

 always broad, of twelve (or rarely fourteen) feathers. The tarsi are 

 generally reticulated, in some furnished with large scales in front ; 

 the anterior toes are sometimes connected at the base by membrane, 

 sometimes entirely free, and their upper surface (acropodia) often 

 scaled ; many have the tarsi feathered, wholly or partially ; the 

 talons are generally sharp, curved, and fitted alike for seizing their 

 prey, and holding it while it is being devoured ; in some, however, 

 (the Vultures) they are blunt. In the Osprey, and some Owls, 

 the outer toe is somewhat reversible. Their organs of vision 



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