82 
NATURAL HISTORY. [NEW BUILDING. 
arranged in the same series as the birds, and the larger 
Table Cases in the centre of the room, the collection of 
Shells of Molluscous animals. 
Birds may be characterized as warm-blooded vertebrated 
animals, which are covered with feathers and are ovi¬ 
parous. They are divided into orders and families by 
the form of their limbs and beaks, as the modifications 
of these parts most prominently exhibit their habits. 
The British specimens of birds are distinguished by a B, 
on the end of the perch. 
I. The first section contains the Raptorial and Passerine 
birds which generally build on trees or oil high places, and 
have their young hatched blind and nearly naked, so that 
it is necessary they should be fed by their parents and 
kept for a time in the nest. 
The Raptorial or Birds of Prey, (the Accipitres 
of Linnaeus,) which constitute the first Order, are charac¬ 
terized by strong feet with sharp claws, and a powerful 
bill, the latter covered at the base by a naked skin, or 
cere, in which is placed the nostrils; their stomach is al¬ 
most entirely membranous, and their sternum broad, giving 
attachment to the muscles of their long wings. They 
live chiefly on animal food, especially on other birds. The 
females are generally one-third larger than the males; 
their eggs usually white and spotless. 
Some of them, which feed chiefly by day, have their eyes 
placed on the side of their head. 
The family of Griffons ( Gypaeiidce , Case 1) have rather 
small heads and a long bill, surrounded at the base by tufts 
of bristles. The Lammergeiers, or Bearded Vultures of the 
Alps and Himalaya Mountains, are amongst the largest 
of the Raptorial Birds, and their quill feathers are often 
more than two feet and a half long. These are probably 
the Rock or Condor of the Orientals, the true Condor 
being only found in America. 
* The family of Condors, ( Cathartidce , Cases 2—4,) found 
principally in America, have naked heads and longi¬ 
tudinal exposed nostrils: as the Condor, or Great Vulture 
of the Andes; and the Californian Vulture. 
The family of Vultures ( Vulturid.ee , Cases 5—7) have 
naked heads like the former, but their nostrils are perpen¬ 
dicular; they are all from the warm parts of the Old 
World. These birds live chiefly on carrion. 
