FAM. XXIX. UAWKS, EAGLES, ETC. 193 



under which divisions the peculiarities will here be given. 

 (1) Kites. Slender, graceful, small birds of prey with very 

 long, pointed wings, often forked tails, and slender, weak 

 bills. ^ They are particularly birds of the air, and in their 

 method of flying remind one of swallows by their grace and 

 ease of movement. Nos. 1-4. (2) Harriers. Hawks with long 

 legs, unnotched, lengthened bills,- long wings and tail, and 

 slender form, having the feathers radiating around the eyes, 

 ruff-like, somewhat imitating the owls. Xo. 5. (.S) Hawks. 

 A large group of medium to snuiU birds of prey with short, 

 stout bills,^long, nearly square tails, and long bare legs. They 

 have wonderful powers of flight, and rarely fail to capture 

 their prey, wliich consists chiefly of small quadrupeds and 

 birds. Nos. 6-8. (4) Buzzards and Eagles. A large group of 

 medium to large-sized birds of prey with heavy bodies and 

 mainly toothless bills. They are inferior in power of flight 

 to the hawks or falcons, and usually capture their prey by 

 stealth rather than by open fight like most other birds of 

 the family. In many species the tarsus is more or less feath- 

 ered ; in some, the feathering extends to the toes. Buzzards, 

 Nos. 9-20; Eagles, 21-23. (5) Falcons. A large group of me- 

 dium to small, but strong, birds of prey with toothed bills,* 

 long, strong wings, short, stiff, rounded tails, short legs, and 

 stout nails (talons) to the strong toes. This is the most typical 

 group of the family, and includes the bravest and most daring 

 of birds. They capture their prey with the most sudden and 

 violent of movements. It includes our smallest species. Nos. 

 24-32. (6) Caracaras. A small group of sub-tro[)ical, vulture- 

 like, sluggish, mainly terrestrial birds of prey, with short, 

 toothless bills, long necks, and fully feathered heads. No. 33. 

 (7) Osprey. This probably consists of but one species, of world- 

 wide distribution, — namely, the well-known fish hawk or osprey, 



12 3 4 



apgar's rirds. — 13 



