Class 5. Aves. Order 7. Accipitres or Rapares.. 461 



short beak, and by the reversible otiter toe, feeds on fish ; and is very 

 cosmopolitan, being met with in all five continents. The Kite or Glede 

 (Milvvs regalis) is distinguished from the Eagles proper by its smaller beak and 

 its forked tail ; abundant in England and Europe generally. To the Eagles 

 belongs also the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus harbatus), in the mountainous 

 regions of South Europe and South Asia (at one time in the Alps). It was formerly 

 classed with the Viiltui-es, which it resembles in its mode of life (feeding chiefly 

 upon carrion), but the head and neck are covered with true feathers. 



2. Vultures of the Old World (Saproharpages). Head and upper part of 

 the neck bare or covered with down ; hind toe large, articulated at the same level 

 as the others ; talons less powerful, somewhat depressed ; wings large ; numerous 

 small scales on the posterior side of the metatarsus. Large fonns, feeding chiefly 

 upon carrion, and inhabiting the hotter parts of the Old World. The large 

 White-headed Vulture ( Vulhir fulvus), with the head and neck covered 

 with whitish down ; and the small Alpine Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)^ 

 with naked head and very long, thin beak; live in countries bordering the 

 Mediterranean and in Africa. 



3. Vultures of the New World (JVeCT-o^iarpagfes). Head and upper portion of 

 the neck usually naked ; hind toe small, articulated above the level of the rest ; 

 nasal septum perforate ; very large wings ; carrion feeders ; in Amei-ica, especially 

 South America. The lai-gest species is the Condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus); 

 another large form is the King Vulture (8. papa), with brightly-coloured 

 head and neck; and the smaller Carrion Vulture (Cathartes). 



4. Owls (Nyctharpages). The back part of the head so broad that the eyes 

 look forwards (in other Birds of Prey they look sideways). The face is surrounded 

 by a circle of peculiar short feathers, the facial disc; there is also a circle of 

 feathers round each eye ; between these rings is the large auditory opening. 

 Bristle feathers surround the base of the beak ; the plumage is soft, usually 

 mottled brown ; the outer toe (fourth) is reversible, i.e., may be turned backwards ; 

 the hind toe is articulated somewhat above the others ; the foot and toes usually 

 feathered. 



(a) Diurnal Owls (Siriges diwrnse). The ear simple, without an 

 operculum ; facial disc incomplete above. They hunt both by day and in the 

 evenings. Diurnal Owls are rare in England. The Snowy Owl (Nyctea nivea) 

 has been found ofE the Shetlands ; and the Hawk Owl (Surnia nisoria) at sea, 

 off Cornwall, but both these are more Northern (Scandinavia). Others which are 

 Continental birds, occasionally visiting the British Isles, are the Great-Eared 

 Owl {Bubo maximus), and the small Scops Eared Owl (Uphialtes scops), 

 both with two tufts of feathers on the head; and the Little Owl (Athene 

 noctua). 



(b) Nocturnal Owls (Striges nocturnse). Ear very large, with an oper- 

 culum ; facial disc complete. In England there are the Tawny Owl (Syrnium 

 aluco), the Long-Eared Owl (Otus vulgaris), the Short-Eared Owl 

 (0. brachyotus), the almost cosmopolitan Barn Owl (Strix flammea), and as 

 an occasional visitor, Tengmalm's Owl (Nyctale funerea) . 



Order 8. OscineS. {Singing Birds). 



The feet are thin and delicately formed. The hind toe, which is 

 strong and provided with a larger claw than the others, can 

 be moved by itself, whilst in all other Birds it can only be 

 moved with the other toes, since the tendon of the hind toe is generally 



