A History of North American Birds; Land Birds; Vol. 3 of 3

PARAKEET. (Conurus carolinensis.) Adult.
A HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS
BY S. F. BAIRD, T. M. BREWER, and R. RIDGWAY
LAND BIRDS
ILLUSTRATED BY 64 PLATES AND 593 WOODCUTS
VOLUME III.
BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1905
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Printers S. J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U. S. A.

NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS.
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 Passeres and Strisores , 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.