PN ER OD UC PI ON. XXVll

at a distance of many yards, must also be endowed with acute powers of vision; nor can it be less
perfect in the Shrike, who sallies forth from his chosen branch to secure with unerring aim the passing
fly or beetle. The Vulture, provided with organs of equal if not even greater power, descries from an
enormous distance a dying camel, a stranded sheep, or any other earthly creature which has met with
misfortune, and by his peculiar motions gives the cue to others of its kind from still greater distances
and various points of the compass ; for ‘“‘ wheresoever the carcase is, there will the Eagles be gathered

together.”

The sense of smell is most acute in the Anatide or Duck tribe, but, according to my experience,

seems to be entirely wanting in the Raptores (Vultures, Eagles, &c.).

That of hearing would appear to be most perfect in the Owls, as testified by their highly developed

auditory conch; at the same time it is by no means wanting in many other families of birds.

Neither can the sense of feeling be absent from the probing bill of the Woodcock and the members

of the Scolopacide generally.

Should any of my readers wish to enrich their knowledge in this direction, I must refer them to the

give

works of the writers mentioned above. In ‘The Birds of Great Britain’ my chief aim has been to g

a faithful representation of the various species, and to record, in addition to the notes of others, such
observations as my lengthened study in this branch of science has enabled me to make.

The following arrangement will give a general view of ‘The Birds of Great Britain,’ with some
additional information respecting them obtained during the progress of the work, and notices of those
species which have occurred in the British Islands, but which are not, in my opinion, entitled to a place

in our fauna and consequently have not been figured.

The Vultures, a family of birds whose proper home is the warmer countries of the world, are but feebly
represented in the British Islands, where, indeed, the appearance of the two species which have occurred
therein must be regarded as purely accidental, our islands being fortunately exempt from those visitations
which render the presence of these useful scavengers a matter of great importance. The family comprises
about twenty-four species, divided among ten or twelve genera, the greater part of which inhabit Eastern
Europe, Africa, and India; the remainder frequent America, and extend their range from the United

States to Chile.