RAPTORES. 50 1 



The common King-fisher (Alcedo ispida) is a somewhat rare 

 native of Britain, and is perhaps the most beautifiil of British 

 birds. Some exotic King-fishers are of large size, and one of 

 the most remarkable of them is the Laughing Jackass (Dacelo 

 gigas) of Australia, so called from its extraordinary song, re- 

 sembling a prolonged hysterical laugh. A very beautiful species 

 is the Belted King-fisher {Ceryle alcyori) of North America. 



The Bee-eaters are found chiefly in the warmer regions of the 

 Old World, and their place is taken in America by the Mot- 

 mots {Momotus). 



CHAPTER I.XX. 



RAPTORES AND SAURURM. 



Order VII. Raptores. — All the members of this order are 

 characterised by the shape of the bill, which is "strong, 

 curved, sharp-edged, and sharp-pointed, often armed with a 

 lateral tooth " (Owen). The upper mandible is the longest 

 (fig. 197, B), and is strongly hooked at the tip. The body is 

 very muscular ; the legs are robust, short, with three toes in 

 front and one behind, all armed with long, curved, crooked 

 claws or talons (fig. 197, A); the wings are commonly pointed. 



Fi^- 197. — A, Foot of the Peregrine Falcon : 6, Head of Buzzard. 



and of considerable size, and the flight is usually rapid and 

 powerful. The Birds of Rapine are monogamous, and the 

 female is larger than the male. They build their nests generally 

 in lofty and inaccessible situations, and rarely lay more than 

 four eggs, from which the young are liberated in a naked and 

 helpless condition. 



