FALCONIB^ — BUTEONINJE : BUZZ ABBS. 541 



leaves; eggs commonly 2, broadly oval or suhsiilierical, heavily colored with blotches and 

 clusters of rich reddish-brown and smaller blackish over-spots ; size 2.20 to 2.40 by about 

 1.85. The long neck and legs of this bird, its terrestrial habits and walking powers, give 

 it peculiar character, almost suggesting Gypogeranm. Like our vultures, it is a constant 

 feature of the scene in some southerly localities. 



47. Subfamily BUTEONINiC: Buzzards and Eagles. 



Bill variable in size and shape, but without the toothing and notching of that of Falconince 

 (with rare exceptions), the cutting edge being variously lobed or festooned, or simple. Nos- 

 trils not circular, nor with a central tubercle; nasal septum incompletely ossified. Super- 

 ciliary shield more or less prominent, usually consisting of two pieces. Scapular process of the 

 coracoid not produced to meet the clavicle. Wings and tail variable, but not presenting the 

 sjtecial characters noted under FalconincB, nor the relative lengths of those of Accipitrince. 

 Tarsus obviously shorter than the tibise, generally scutellate before and behind, sometimes 

 feathered to the toes. The buzzards form a large group, not easy to define except by exclu- 

 sion ; though quite distinct from Falconince and Polyhorince, they grade into each of the other 

 subfamilies here presented. They are hawks of medium and rather large size, heavy-bodied, 

 of strong but measured flight, inferior in spirit to the true hawks and falcons, and as a rule 

 feed upon humble game, which they rather snatch stealthily than capture in open piracy. 

 The extensive genus Buteo with its subdivisions, and its companion Archibuteo, typify the 

 buzzards ; they include, however, a great variety of forms. With them must be associated 

 \lie eagles; for the popular estimate of these famous great birds as something remarkably 

 lUfferent from ordinary hawks is not confirmed by examination of their structure, which is the 

 same as that of other buzzards. Although usually of large size and powerful physique, they 

 are far below the smallest falcons in raptorial character, prey like the buzzards, and often 

 stoop to carrion. The genus Aquila may stand as the type of an eagle ; its several species 

 are confined to the Old World, with one exception. Halia'etus represents a decided modifica- 

 tion, in adaptation to maritime and piscivorous habits. A celebrated bird of this group is the 

 harpy eagle, Thrasi/aetus harpyia, with immense bill and feet, and one of the most powerful 

 birds of tlie whole family. There are several other genera in either hemisphere. 



Analysis of Genera. 

 Tarsi feathered in front to tlie toes. 



Buzzards not over 2 feet long Archibuteo 181 



Eagles about 3 feet long Aquila 186 



Tarsi naked and scutellate or reticulate below. 



Crested. Eagles about 4 feet long Thrasijadtus 185 



Not crested. No basal webbing of toes. Eagles about 3 feet long Haliactus 187 



A basal web between outer and middle toes. Buzzards not over two feet long. 



No tibial flag; outstretched feet reaching beyond tail Onychotes 184 



Tibiae flagged ; under parts of adult finely barred crosswise; wings rounded .... Asturina 182 

 — otherwise ; wings more pointed . . . Urubitinga, 183, or Buteo 180 



BU'TEO. (Lat. /^Mteo, a buzzard-hawk.) Buzzards. Size medium and large ; form heavy, 

 robust. Bill of moderate size and ordinary shape. Wings rather long and pointed, exceed- 

 ing the tail to a variable extent ; 3d to 5th quills longest, 1st to 5th emarginate on inner webs, 

 1st not longer than 8th. Tail of moderate length, probably averaging f of the M-ing, a little 

 rounded. Feet more or less robust; tarsi scutellate in front at least, feathered in front for a 

 varying distance; tibia; flagged. This is the central or typical genus of its subfamily, as 

 Fako is of Falconince, embracing numerous (about 30) species of nearly all parts of the world 

 excepting Australia ; about half of thein American. The type is B. vulgaris of Europe, to 

 which the N. Am. B. swainsoni is so closely related. Four of our species {BB. borealis, sivain- 

 soni, lineatus, and pennsylvanicus) are abundant "hen hawks" or "chicken hawks" of the 

 U. S., the first named running into several varieties ; the others are little known (BB. harlani, 



