248 TlMEHRl. 
greenheart bark, a Fiji sugar mat-bag, ears of maize 
from Canada, and samples of ropes made from colonial 
fibres. On the other side are seen specimens of fibres 
together with a large colle6lion of models, in wax and 
paper, of fruit, vegetables and flowers of the colony. 
The next two cases, together with the flat cases 
opposite, in the middle, contain a very typical colle6lion 
of the birds of the colony. The grouping and naming of 
these birds will be considerably interfered with in the 
general re-arrangement of the Museum, since, as at pre- 
sent exhibited, their alliances are not always well shewn. 
First to be noticed, in the under part of the first case, 
are the hawks, eagles, vultures and owls, known as the 
birds of prey, or raptorial birds, forming the order 
Accipitres, easily recognised by the strong, hooked and 
pointed beak, and the strong legs furnished with large 
and long, pointed claws. These birds are markedly 
carnivorous, feeding chiefly on mammals, birds, reptiles, 
frogs and fish. The owls are no&urnal birds, and the 
others diurnal. Among them are shewn numerous inter- 
esting forms such as the striking-looking swallow-tailed 
hawk or falcon (Elanoides furcatus), old and young 
specimens of the crested or harpy eagle (Thrasaetus 
harpyia), the king vulture, or king of the carrion crows 
(Sarcorhamphus papa), together with the common barn 
or screech-owl, (Strix flamrnea), etc. The swallow-tailed 
hawk, taking its name from the forked or scissors-like 
tail, is widely distributed over North and South America 
reaching even to Europe. The harpy eagle, of which a 
splendid specimen well worthy of close observation is 
shewn, is the largest of the eagles, and exceeds the 
golden eagle of Europe both in its total strength, and in 
