90 
NATURAL HISTORY. [EAST. ZOOLi 
the form of their limbs and beaks, as the modifications 
of these parts most prominently exhibit their habits. 
I. The first section contains the Raptorial and Passerine 
birds which generally build on trees or on 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, ( Gypaetidce ,) 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 ,) found princi¬ 
pally in America, have naked heads and longitudinal 
exposed nostrils: as the Condor, or Great Vulture of the 
Andes ; and the Californian Vulture. 
The family of Vultures, ( Vulturidce ,) have naked heads 
like the former, but their nostrils are perpendicular; they 
are all from the warm parts of the Old World. These 
birds live chiefly on carrion. 
The family of Falcons, (Falconidce ,) have their heads 
covered with feathers, and the eyebrows prominent, giving 
the eye the appearance of being set deep in the head, and 
imparting a character to these birds, very different from 
that of the Vultures. The Noble Falcons, the birds used 
in falconry, have a roundish nostril, with a tubercle in its 
centre. Most of them have a deep notch on each side of 
