History Of North American Birds Vol 2

Author : S. F. Baird
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781330468692
Total Pages : 618 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (686 download)

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Download or read book A History of North American Birds, Vol. 3 (Classic Reprint) written by S. F. Baird and published by . This book was released on 2015-06-28 with total page 618 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from A History of North American Birds, Vol. 3 The group of birds usually known as the Raptores, or Rapacious Birds, embraces three well-marked divisions, namely, the Owls, the Hawks, and the Vultures. In former classifications they headed the Class of Birds, being honored with this position in consequence of their powerful organization, large size, and predatory habits. But it being now known that in structure they are less perfectly organized than the Passcres and Strisorcs, birds generally far more delicate in organization, as well as smaller in size, they occupy a place in the more recent arrangements nearly at the end of the Terrestrial forms. The complete definition of the order Raptorcs, and of its subdivisions, requires the enumeration of a great many characters; and that their distinguishing features may be more easily recognized by the student, I give first a brief diagnosis, including their simplest characters, to be followed by a more detailed account hereafter. Common Characters. Bill hooked, the tipper mandible furnished at the base with a soft skin, or "cere," in which the nostrils are situated. Toes, three before and one behind. Raptores. Strigidae. Eyes directed forwards, and surrounded by radiating feathers, which are bounded, except anteriorly, by a circle or rim of differently formed, stiffer feathers. Outer toe reversible. Claws much hooked and very sharp. Legs and toes usually feathered, or, at least, coated with bristles. The Owls. Falconidae. Eyes lateral, and not surrounded by radiating feathers. Outer toe not reversible (except in Pandion). Claws usually booked and sharp, but variable. Head more or less completely feathered. The Hawks. Cathartidae. Eyes lateral; whole head naked. Outer toe not reversible; claws slightly curved, blunt. The Vultures. The preceding characters, though purely artificial, may nevertheless serve to distinguish the three families of Raptores belonging to the North American Ornis; a more scientific diagnosis, embracing a sufficient number of osteological, and accompanying anatomical characters, will be found further on. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."