THE DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY 
(A ccipiiriformes) 
The Order Accipitnf&rmes mcludes the vultures, eagles, 
hawks and ospreysj all these birds being sometimes conveni- 
ently g:Fonped under the term 'Vaptores'*. 
In habits they are all carnivorous, but while some feed on 
carrion others prefer to catch their food alive. 
All the birds of prey are very well adapted for the life they 
lead. The beak is short, stout and hooked and has sharp 
edges; the toes are provided with strong curved claws and by 
the combined use of these weapons they seize ^ kill and rend 
their prey. ^ 
The various species have very different methods of hunting. 
The bold peregrine dashes into the middle of a flying flock 
and seizing a bird flys away with apparent ease. The kestrel 
hovers aloft with head bent down and woe betide the field- 
mouse or other small living thing that betrays its presence in 
the field below by a slight movement. The long-winged harder 
quarters a field as systematically as a schoolboy searching for 
larks' eggs. 
About forty different birds of prey are known from the 
Malay Peninsula, but quite a lot of these are rare. Singapore 
has a list of nineteen recorded species^, but of these again a 
large proportion will not be met with in the ordinary way and 
only the sea-eagle and the brahminy kite are common "accj- 
pitres" in Singapore, A few other kinds mentioned below may 
be met with at long intervals^ but usually only as passing 
migrants. 
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