304 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS. 
The Rapiores are divided into two sections—the Nocturnal 
Birds of Prey, which hunt at night, and the Diurnal Birds of 
Prey, which hunt by day. In the former section is only the 
single family of the Owls (S¢rzg¢de), in which the eves are large, 
us “ay f 
CA fA Wy 
aa Ah, “4 iY ti 
Wp 
We 
hes 
Le Yy y 
Fig. 166.—A, Foot of Tawny Owl; B, Head of White Owl. 
and are directed forwards (fig. 166), whilst the plumage is 
exceedingly soft and loose, so as to render their flight almost 
noiseless. The Owls hunt their prey in the twilight or on moon- 
light nights, and they live mostly upon field-mice and small 
birds, but they will also eat insects and frogs. In the section of 
the diurnal Raptores are the Falcons and Hawks, the Eagles 
and the Vultures. In all these the eyes are smaller than in the 
Owls, and are placed laterally, and the plumage is not soft. 
They usually possess extraordinary powers of flight. The wings 
are long and pointed, the sternal keel is greatly developed, the 
pectoral muscles are of large size, and many of them exhibit 
powers of locomotion more rapid than those enjoyed by any 
other members of the animal kingdom. 
ORDER VIII. SAURUR#&.—This order includes only the 
single extinct bird, the Archeopteryx, which has been found in 
the Oolitic rocks of Germany. The Archaeopteryx was about 
as big as a common rook, and shows many singular points of 
resemblance to the true Reptiles. It differs from all living 
birds in having two free claws to the wing, and in possessing a 
long lizard-like tail. Instead of the ploughshare-shaped bone 
