RAFTORES. 3 



Feet formed for"^ f Raptores, or Birds of Prey. 

 grasping . J IIxpessores, or Perching Birds. 



Feet not formed 1 ( Rasores, or Gallinaceous Birds, 

 for grasping } ) Gr ^ l atores, <* Wading Birds. 

 C Natatores *, or Swimming Birds. 



Order I.— RAPTORES, Vigors. 



Raptatores, Illiger. Accipitres, Linne. 



Rostrum robustum, basi cerigerum, ap'ice aduncum ,• pedes ro- 

 busii, breves aut mediocres ; tibiae plumis tectce ; tarsi nudi vel 

 plus minusve plumosi, verrucosi ; ungues valid i, mobiles, retrac- 

 iiles, arcuati, acuti aut subobtusi. 



The Raptorial Birds, or Birds of Prey, have the beak stout, co- 

 vered with a cere at its base, its tip bent down ; the legs strong, 

 short, or of moderate length ; the tibia clothed with feathers ; 

 the tarsi naked, or more or less covered with feathers or down ; 

 the toes four in number, three anterior, one posterior, and rough 

 beneath ; the claws strong, moveable, retractile, arcuated, acute, 

 or somewhat blunt. 



These birds chiefly subsist upon flesh ; those of the 

 second family preferring it in a tainted, or putrid, 

 state : while, on the other hand, those of the other 

 families, for the most part, refuse to partake thereof 

 unless perfectly fresh ; and to obtain it thus they 

 pursue other birds and small mammalia : a few of 

 the species also attack serpents and fishes, and some 

 of the Strigidse devour insects. They are all en- 

 dowed with considerable powers of flight, the species 



* Mr. Vigors places the most perfect, or typical, group in the 

 centre, which method will be adopted in the subsequent pages : 

 as this order is consequently the first that presents itself to our 

 view, and has been already treated of with reference to the quinary 

 and circular distribution of natural objects, it is unnecessary to 

 notice it a sain. 



