162 ornithologist's text-book. 



and is composed of the various groups generally 

 known as Birds of Prey ; answering to the Acci- 

 pitres of Linnaeus, and analogous to the Carnivo- 

 rous Animals of the Class Mammalia. The com- 

 pact yet powerful body, the predatory habits, the 

 decided partiality for animal food, the strong and 

 hooked bill, the muscular limbs, the curved and 

 often semi-retractile claws, and other distinguish- 

 ing traits, separate the birds of this Order from all 

 the others ; though, at the same time we must 

 remark, that modifications of form and character 

 are met with in the less typical members, sufficient 

 to support the necessary connection with the other 

 orders of the class. In this Division four Families 

 only have yet been recognised, viz. the Vulturicke, 

 Falconidce, St rig idee, and Gypogerdnida. Of these 

 the three first mentioned embrace the extensive 

 Linnaean genera Vultur, Falco, and Stria,'; the 

 fourth is represented by the African Serpent-Eater 

 {Secretary Vulture of Latham). The fifth, neces- 

 sary to complete the series of affinities within the 

 circle of this Order, is still wanting." — Selby, 

 Brit. Orn. 



" Family III, FALCONID.E. 



" The Falcon idee, which form the second typical 

 family of the order, may be considered as embracing 

 all those various ' birds of prey' that feed in the 

 day time, which are arranged by Linnaeus and 

 other systematists under the extensive genus Falco. 

 In these, the head (except in the species more im- 

 mediately connecting them with the VidturidceJ 

 is clothed with feathers; the bill is strong and short, 

 much hooked, and in the typical species bending 

 immediately from the base, which is covered with 

 a naked and coloured cere ; the nostrils are lateral, 



