talconim:. 
103 
but they also contain many foreign genera, by 
which their connection can only be satisfactorily 
made out. 
The Typical or Falconine division, tne 
Falconing, Falcons, 
is seen in the Jer and Peregrine Falcons, the 
Merlin, Stc. and in these we have the form for 
rapine developed to the utmost ; compact, power- 
ful, muscular ; the bill strong, with a lacerating 
tooth ; the wings pointed, the quills of firm tex- 
ture, the second and third longest ; the legs and 
feet very muscular, the latter with the claws 
formed for grasping strongly ; the manner of 
flying rapid, decided, not gliding or soaring in 
watch ; the prey almost always struck during 
flight ; breeding places most generally precipitous 
rocks. 
The colour of the eggs of birds is nearly con- 
stant in the greater divisions, and the family to 
which any species belongs may be known with 
tolerable certainty from the form and markings, 
and general colour of the eggs. In illustration of 
this we shall introduce into these volumes figures 
of the eggs of the principal groups of our native 
birds. Among the true Falcons the egg is always 
rather round in form, the prevailing colour dif- 
ferent shades of reddish brown, with numerous 
irregular markings of a darker shade ; and the 
