RAPTORKS. 503 



The section of the Diurnal Raptores includes the two groups 

 of the Accipitrince (Falcons, Hawks, and Eagles), and the Vul- 

 turidce, or Vultures. The eyes in this section are much smaller 

 than in the preceding, and are placed laterally ; and the plu^ 

 mage is not soft. As regards their power of flight, they show 

 a decided advance upon, the Nocturnal Birds of Prey. The 

 wings are long and pointed ; the sternal keel and pectoral 

 muscles are greatly developed ; and many of the members of 

 this section exhibit a more rapid power of locomotion than is 

 seen in any other division of the; animal kingdom. The bill is 

 long and strong, with a large " cere " at the base of the upper 

 mandible, in which the nostrils are pierced. The tarso-meta- 

 tarsus and toes are usually covered by scales, and are rarely 

 feathered. Lastly, the oesophagus is dilated into a capacious 

 crop, the gizzard is thin, the intestinal caeca are rudimentary, 

 and the intestinal canal is generally short and wide, i 



In the Accipitrincs or JfaJconida (fig. 197, B) the head and 

 neck are always iclotl^ed With feathers, and the eyes are more 

 or less sunk in the head, and provided with a superciliary ridge 

 or eyebrow. It is to a great extent to the presence of this 

 ridge that many of these birds owe their fearless and bold ex- 

 pression. In this family are the Falcons, Hawks, Buzzards, 

 Kites, Harriers, and Eagles, most of which are so well known 

 that any description is unnecessary. 



Fig, 199. — Head of Vulture {Neophron percnopterui) 



In the VulturidcB (fig. 199) the eyes are destitute of an eye- 

 brow, and the head and neck are frequently naked, or covered 



