I 
CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. RAPTORES. lY 
THE ICELAND FALCON. 
their prey almost entirely on tke wing. Their food consists of quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, and in- 
sects, which they seize by suddenly pouncing upon them in the air or on the ground ; many 
of the species also feed upon fishes, in pursuit of which they dash down with great force into 
the water. Their victims are seized by the powerful curved and acute claws, the deadly gTipe 
of which generally destroys life immediately, bnt the bill is rarely used except to tear the flesh 
of the prey after it has been secured in the talons. When the animal killed is of small com-- 
parative size, the birds generally carry it off to some quiet spot where they may feed upon it with- 
ont fear of interruption ; but when it is too large to be thus disposed of, they gorge themselves 
with its flesh on the spot where it fell. In either case, however, they usually devour as much 
of their victim as will completely fill the crop or dilated portion of the oesophagus, and then 
always retire to some sequestered retreat, where they remain quiet until the food is digested. 
They generally remove a good portion of the hair or feathers from their prey before commenc- 
ing their attack upon its flesh ; but, notwithstanding, usually swallow sora.e of these indigestible 
Vol. II— 3. 
