278 



VEKTEBEATE ANIMALS. 



The jRaptores are divided into two sections — ^the Nocturnal 

 Birds of Prey, which, hunt at night, and the Diurnal Birds of 

 Prey, which hunt by day. In the former section is only the 

 single family of the Owls {Btrigidai), in which the eyes are 

 large, and are directed forward ; while the plumage is exceed- 

 ingly soft and loose, so as to render their flight almost noise- 

 less. The Owls (Fig. 138) hunt their prey in the twilight or 

 on moonlight nights, and they live mostly upon iield-mice and 

 small birds, but they will also eat insects and frogs. In the 



B A 



Fig. 138.— a. Foot of Tawny Owl; B, Head of Whits Owl. 



section of the diurnal Raptores are the Falcons and Hawks, 

 the Eagles and the Vultures. In all these the eyes are smaller 

 than in the Owls, and are placed laterally, and the plumage is 

 ' not soft. They usually possess extraordinary powers of flight. 

 The wings are long and pointed, the sternal keel is greatly 

 developed, the pectoral muscles are of large size, and many of 

 them exhibit powers of locomotion more rapid than those en- 

 joyed by any other members of the animal kingdom. 



Of the diurnal Raptores, America has many examples, and 

 some of these are among the most celebrated members of the 

 entire order. Besides many Hawks, Buzzards, and Kites, may 

 be especially mentioned the Bald Eagle, the Californian Vul- 

 ture, and the Condor. The Bald or White-headed Eagle 

 (Halietus leucocephalus) is well known as the national emblem 

 of the United States. It is a fine and courageous bird, and 

 lives to a great extent upon fish, which it either catches for 

 itself, or, more commonly, wrests forcibly from the American 

 Osprey. The Californian Vulture ( Cathartes Calif orniamts) 

 is the largest of the Birds of Prey, with the single exception 



