178 Mr. Vicors’sand Dr. Honsrierp's Description of the 
inclined to assign it a place among the proverbially slothful and 
cowardly Vulturide. The nearest approach to the characters of | 
that family that has come under our observation among the 
birds of Australia is in the genus Polyborus of M. Vieillot, the par- 
tially naked cheeks of which are allied to those of the Vultures. 
That genus, however, possesses so many characters in common 
with the Falconide, particularly with the Fishing Eagles, that it is 
generally ranked in that family, but at that extremity of it which 
meets the family now before us. This genus Polyborus is said 
to assume much of the manners of the Vultures, and may per- 
haps be considered as in some degree to supply their place 
in Australia. Dut on this and similar points we do not at 
present wish to hazard an opinion. Conjecture may be allowed 
in some measure to supply the place of facts, when facts are 
incapable of being ascertained: but with so early a prospect 
of having our doubts cleared up upon every subject relating 
to the zoology of New Holland, it is perhaps more prudent 
merely to express them. 
Fam. FALCONIDEÆ. 
In this family there are niany species and many forms in the 
Australian Fauna. The forms, however, are such as are com- 
mon to every other part of the world, with the exception of the 
genus Polyborus, to which we have just alluded, and which is 
confined to southern latitudes, although widely distributed as to 
its longitudinal extent. We may generally observe-with respect 
to the groups of the Falconide, that they know no bounds as to 
their geographical distribution. Preying indiscriminately upon 
all species of the inferior animals; and not being confined, like 
many other tribes of birds, to a particular or a local food, the 
different forms that compose the family may readily be con- 
ceived to be. dispersed all over the globe. Their powers of 
. flight, 
