4 
their prey from an amazing height, darting 
down upon it with the swiftness of an arrow, 
and their stength is so great, that some of 
them have been known to carry to their 
young a load nearly as heavy as themselves, 
from a considerable distance. 
They prefer the most solitary tracts ; and 
commonly breed in crags of rocks or on the 
tallest trees, but some few of the species 
build their nests upon the ground. 
Birds of this genus emit the exuviae and 
bones of their food at the mouth, in the form 
of round pellets. 
Contrary to the general rule which prevail 
in every other species, the females of birds 
of prey are larger and stronger than th$ 
males. 
