176 FALCONINiE. 



vex, the edge with a shght festoon ; nostrils oblong, oblique, 

 large ; head of moderate size, ovate ; legs with the feathers 

 short, tarsus very short, remarkably thick, covered all round 

 with scales ; toes very thick, with conical papillae beneath, the 

 outer versatile ; claws long, curved, convex beneath ; wings 

 extremely long, and rather narrow. 



1. Pandion Haliaetm. Fishing Osprey. Brown above, 

 white beneath, with a brown patch on the breast. Young 

 with the feathers tipped with white. 



GENUS V. PERNIS. BEE-HAWK. 



Bill short, rather small, compressed toward the end, its 

 upper outline gently curved from the base, the edge with a 

 very slight festoon ; nostrils large, oblong, oblique ; head of 

 moderate size, ovate ; feet short and strong ; tarsus short, 

 roundish, feathered anteriorly for half their length, covered all 

 round with hexagonal scales ; claws long, little curved, slender, 

 concave beneath ; space before the eyes covered with very 

 small compact feathers ; wings and tail very long. 



1. Pernis apivora. Broicn Bee-HawJc. Umber-brown 

 above. 



GENUS VI. MILVUS. KITE. 



Bill short, stout, compressed toward the end, its upper out- 

 line convex and sloping to the edge of the cere, then decurved, 

 the sides convex, the edge with a distinct festoon ; nostrils 

 elliptical, oblique ; head large, ovate ; legs very short, strong ; 

 tarsus roundish, feathered for half their length ; wings very 

 long, the fourth quill longest ; tail very long, forked. 



1. Milms regalis. Salmon-tailed Kite. Reddish-brown 

 above, with narrow dusky streaks, lower parts of a lighter tint. 



GENUS VII. NAUCLERUS. SWALLOW-KITE. 



Bill short, wide at the base, much compressed toward the 

 end, its upper outline decurved from the base, the sides slightly 

 convex, the edge with a slight festoon ; nostrils round, with a 



