FALCONS. 591 



as it will pounce on tlie game shot by the sportsman, totally 

 disregarding human presence. 



The Lapland and the Ural Owls have the same habits as the 

 Hai'fang, only their geographical distribution is less extended. 

 Mr. Gould regards the latter as one of the rarest European Owls. 

 As their names indicate, they are peculiar to certain countries. 

 Neither have they the dazzling whiteness of the Ilarfang Owl ; 

 and this is the characteristic which specially distinguishes them 

 from the latter. 



We may class in the same genus two exotic species discovered 

 by Levaillant. These are the Choucou, which is a native of Africa, 

 and the Huhul Owl of Guiana, which hunts its prey in open 

 day. 



DiUKXAL BlEDS OF PsEY. 



All that we previouslj' remarked, when commencing the con- 

 sideration of this order, as to the general characteristics which 

 distinguish birds of prey, applies more particularly to the diurnal 

 portion of them. We shall not rep)eat here what we have already 

 stated, but onlj^ add a few words, in order the better to specify this 

 division of the order. 



The diurnal birds of prey have their eyes placed at the sides 

 of the head, and the toes completely bare. They vary in size 

 from that of the Sparrow-hawk, the spread of whose wings is 

 scarcely twelve inches, to the Condor, which stretches its pinions 

 over a space of four or irve yards. They lay their eggs, which 

 are generally of an oval shape, in rude nests called " aeries." 



The Diurnal section of the Rapacious order is divided into three 

 families : the Falcons {Falconidm), the Vultures ( Vulturidm), and 

 the Serpent-eaters [Gypogeixmus) . 



Falcons. 



The Falcon tribe have a very strong and comparatively short 

 beak, which is generally curved from the base, with denticulated 

 or scalloped edges ; the head and neck covered with feathers ; the 



