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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 64

Cases 5 to 10

Cases 5 to 10

contain the Birds of Prey. (Accipitres or Rap tores), Case contains Vultures, all of which feed on carrion, are recognised by their more or less naked head and neck. The Monk Vulture (Vultur monachus); the Indian Vulture (Otogyps calvus); and the Bengal Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), represent the true Vultures of the oil world; while the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes [unclear: and]) represents the Vultures of the new world. The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is also found in India and occasionally in Europe. It is often represented on the Egyptian monuments as the symbol for the sun. The Lammergeyer or Bearded Vulture (Gypaetut [unclear: bar]) is supposed to be the fabled Roc. It inhabits high mountains only. Case 6 contains the Buzzards, of [unclear: which] vulgaris and Archibuteo lagopus may be taken as types. Case 7 contains Eagles. The Golden Eagle of Europe (Aquila chrysaetos) and its Australian representative the Eagle Hawk (Aquila audax), with its long wedge-shaped tail. The Imperial Eagle (Aquila imperialis) and the Spotted Eagle (Aquila nœvia) are also beautiful birds. The Snake Eagle of India (Spilornis cheela) has no feathers on its legs. The Ring-Tailed Sea Sea Eagles (Haliäetus leucoryphus) feeds upon fish, turtles, and snakes

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Case 8 contains the Falcons, which are distinguished by the sharp tooth on the upper mandible of the bill, and by their long pointed wings. The Jer Falcon ([unclear: Falco]cans) and the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) were the most highly prized of all by the ancient Falconers; but even the little Merlin (Falco œsalon) was used for lawking larks and quail. The Jugger Falcon ([unclear: Falco]) is much used at the present day in India for this [unclear: fin e] old sport. It will be seen by the group of Jugger Falcons that the female much exceeds the male in size. This is the case with all the birds of prey.

The Kite (Milvus regalis) and the Govinda Kite (Milvus [unclear: nda]) are quite different from the Falcons in the bill. Like all the other Kites, they can be distinguished by their larked tails.

The Hawks (Case 9) have short rounded wings. The [unclear: Gos]-hawk (Astur palumbarius) and the Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter Nisus) were used in hawking, but were flown in quite a different way to the Falcons; their heads never being covered with hoods.

The Harriers are distinguished by the more or less marked circle of feathers round the eye. The group of Indian Harriers (Circus macrurus) shows the male, female young. The Secretary Bird (Serpentarius [unclear: lious]vorus) is remarkable for its long legs. It gets its English name from the tuft of feathers on either side of the head. It feeds only on Snakes.

The Owls, or Nocturnal Birds of Prey, occupy Case 10. They Are known by their soft plumage, and large eyes surrounded by a disk of feathers. The Hawk Owl [unclear: (Surutula)] is intermediate between the Owls and Hawks, and it flies by day. The Snowy Owl (Nyctea nivea) is found only in high northern latitudes. Its plumage is remarkably like that of the Jer-falcon (Case 8) which inhabits the same countries. The Sparrow Owl (Glauci- [unclear: the] passerinum) is one of the smallest of its kind. The Burrowing Owl (Speotyto hypogœa) lives in holes in the [unclear: the] along with Prairie Dogs and Rattle Snakes. The Bengal Eagle Owl (Bubo beugalensis) is one of the largest of its kind. It has long feathers over each eye [unclear: like] also has the Fish Owl (Ketupa ceylonica). The Barred Owl (Syrnium nebulosum) is a very handsome [unclear: bird]. The Barn Owl or Screech Owl (Strix flammea) is found over nearly the whole world.