LITTLE CORPORAL HAWK. AQUILA. 61 



LITTLE CORPORAL HAWK. 



{Falco temerarius. Audubon, plate 75.) 



Spec. Charact. — Head, wings, and tail, deep dusky; back and 

 rump cinereous ; tail with 3 black bands, the terminal one broad 

 and tipped with white ; beneath, whitish with dark oblong spots j 

 cere and legs yellow. 



Of this beautiful small species, discovered by Audu- 

 bon, we as yet know nothing on this side the Atlantic. 

 It is probably a Southern bird, and will in due time be 

 described by the author. 



Length about 10 inches. Chin, white ; back, lead color; 3 cine- 

 reous and 3 black bands on the tail. Beneath, white, tinged with 

 pale rufous ; femorals pale rufous with black lines along the shafts. 



EAGLES (properly so called), Aquila. 



Bill strong and elongated, straight at the base. Feet very ro- 

 bust ; tarsus often feathered to the toes. Toes stout, armed with 

 very large incurved nails ; the middle one pectinated on the inner 

 side and connected to the outer by a membrane. The wings long ; 

 the 1st primary very short ; the 4th and 5th longest. 



These are the most powerful birds of the genus, and indeed of the 

 whole feathered race. They pursue their prey with rapid flight, 

 seizing it in their talons, and, bearing it yet palpitating to their 

 young, they present it to them by tearing it to pieces. The greater 

 kinds carry off large animals and birds ; a few attack reptiles and 

 even insects. Impelled by extreme hunger they sometimes feed 

 upon carrion. Their sight is keen, but their sense of smell imper- 

 fect. The larger kinds_ inhabit and breed generally in mountainous 

 districts. 



