Q RAPACES. FALCO. EAGLES. 
loured cere. Nostrils round or oval, lateral, and placed in 
the cere. ‘Tongue in most species fleshy and bifid. Upper 
orbit of the eye projecting. Legs feathered to the toes, or 
naked. ‘Toes, three anterior and one posterior, the middle 
toe connected to the outer one, as far as the first joint. Claws 
sharp, and very hooked, strong and retractile. Female su- 
perior in. size to the male. 
This Genus is very numerous, and some species are found 
in almost every part of the globe. In these birds, symmetry 
and elegance of form are united to great strength and activity. 
They prey entirely upon living creatures, for the pursuit and 
capture of which they have been highly gifted by Nature ; 
their power of flight, both as to duration and swiftness, being 
superior to most of the feathered race; their vision being 
wonderfully acute; and possessing great courage. Their 
limbs are usually short, but strong, and armed with sharp 
and crooked talons, for the purpose of striking their prey. 
Dependent upon their own exertions for support, and at war 
with all other birds, they lead a solitary and wandering life ; 
and it is only during the pairing season, and that of incuba- 
tion, that the sexes associate, or meet even upon friendly 
terms. ' 
Birds and quadrupeds are the usual food of most of the 
species: some, however, prey upon fish, and a few of the 
smaller kind live principally upon the larger coleopterous in- 
sects. ‘They tear their prey in pieces with their bill and 
claws, and part of the feathers and fur being swallowed with 
the flesh, is afterwards ejected, together with the bones and 
other indigestible parts, in pellets by the mouth. They sel- 
dom drink ; the blood of their prey being sufficient to quench 
thirst. : 
In the progress from the young to the adult state (which 
in some species is not attained before the third, in others the 
fifth or sixth year), the plumage undergoes many and re- 
markable changes. ‘This circumstance, from a want of ob- 
servation, and indeed of opportunity for close investigation, 
has given rise to several errors among writers on ornithology, 
