The Râchâm or Gier-Eagle identified with the Egyptian Vulture--Its appearance on the Egyptian monuments--Signification of the word _Râchâm_--Various translations of the word--The shape, size, and colour of the bird--Its value as a scavenger, and its general habits--The Egyptian Vultures and the griffons--Its fondness for the society of man--Nest of the Egyptian Vulture 339 THE GRIFFON VULTURE, OR EAGLE OF SCRIPTURE. The Griffon Vulture identified with the Eagle of Scripture--The word _Nesher_ and its signification--Geographical range of the Griffon--Its mode of flight and sociable habits--The featherless head and neck of the bird--The Vulture used as an image of strength, swiftness, and rapacity--Its powers of sight--How Vultures assemble round a carcase--Nesting-places of the Griffon--Mr. Tristram's description of the Griffon--Rock caves of the Wady Hamâm--Care of the young, and teaching them to fly--Strength of the Griffon--Its emblematical use in Egypt and Assyria--The god Nisroch--Noble aspect of the Griffon--Its longevity--Various attitudes assumed by the bird 344 THE EAGLE. Signification of the word _Asniych_--The Golden Eagle and its habits--The Imperial Eagle--Its solitary mode of life--The Short-toed Eagle common in Palestine--Its zoological position--Food of the Short-toed Eagle--Its form and colour 354 THE OSPREY. The Osprey, or Fishing Eagle--Its geographical range--Mode of securing prey--Structure of its feet--Its power of balancing itself in the air 356 THE KITE, OR VULTURE OF SCRIPTURE. The word _Dayah_ and its signification--Dayah a collective term for different species of Kites--The Common or Red Kite plentiful in Palestine--Its piercing sight and habit of soaring--The Black Kite of Palestine and its habits--The Egyptian Kite--The Raah or Glede of Scripture--The Buzzards and their habits--The Peregrine Falcon an inhabitant of Central Palestine, and the Lanner of the eastern parts of the country 357 THE HAWK. The Netz or Hawk--Number of species probably grouped under that name--Rare occurrence of the word--The Sparrow-Hawk and its general habits--Its place of nesting--The Kestrel, or Wind-hover--Various names by which it is known in England--Its mode of feeding and curious flight--The Hariers--Probable derivation of the name--Species of Hariers known to inhabit Palestine--Falconry apparently unknown to the ancient Jews 364 THE OWL. The words which have been translated as "Owl"--The Côs, or Little Owl--Use made of the Little Owl in bird-catching--Habits of the bird--The Barn, Screech, or White Owl a native of Palestine--The Yanshûph, or Egyptian Eagle Owl--Its food and nest--The Lilith, or Night Monster--Various interpretations of the word--The Kippoz probably identical with the Scops Owl, or Marouf 37 THE NIGHT-HAWK.