424 Mr. N. A. Vicors on the Natural Affinities 
also it agrees with each; the bird being occasionally observed, 
like the Vultures, to feed upon carrion, and at other times, like 
the Falcons, to pursue a living prey. 
If we search in the last place for the connexion between the 
Falconide and the Strigide, we shall not fail to find their affinity 
apparent, as is usual, in the less typical part of the two groups. 
In the latter family some species may be observed gradually ap- 
proaching the Fa/cons in their diurnal habits and the lateral posi- 
tion of the eyes; and at the same time deserting their own con- 
geners in losing the large orifice to the ear, the disk that sur- 
rounds the face, and the egrets that decorate the head of the type 
of the family. ‘The genus Surnia, Dumer., which includes the 
** Chouettes Eperviers” of the French naturalists, is the most acci- 
pitrine of the group. In addition to the approximation already 
pointed out, the bill and tail of this genus, more lengthened 
than those of the Owls in general, give it a still stronger resem- 
blance to the Falconidæ. The group of Buzzards among the 
latter family appears to come most closely to the Owls, in their 
slow and heavy flight, the softness of their plumage, and their 
slothful and cowardly habits. The genus Circus of Bechstein in 
particular, of which our Hen Harrier gives a familiar example, 
may be observed to possess a peculiar elongation and erection of 
the face-feathers, which bears some resemblance to the disk that 
encircles the face of the Strigide, and it may therefore be par- 
ticularized, from among those groups, at least, which are most 
known to us, as exhibiting the nearest approach to Surnia. 
There is thus little difficulty in selecting the four families just 
mentioned for the purpose of filling up the place of four of the 
subdivisions of the Raptores ; and in all probability, when the or- 
der comes to be more perfectly and accurately understood, these 
families will be found to be connected together in the succession 
in which they have now been examined. A fifth subdivision as yet 
is wanting. "That there is room however for such an additional 
group, 
