THE EMPIRE OF THE AIR. 



429 



the two divisions prol'ouiid dirtereiices; one may be callod laptorcs of 

 long- tligiit aud the other of short fiiglit. 



Among- the eagles, the faleons, the kites, and tlie buzzards tlie i)rimary 

 feathers are loug, the second and third being the k)ngest, the result 

 being an acute-shaped wing. Among the hawks the fifth (inill is the 

 longest, and moreover, the whole combination ol" primary feathers is 

 remarkable for its shortness. They are not birds of extensive flights, 

 either as regards elevation or duration; they frequently are perched. 

 They comprehend three species — the sparrow-hawk, the goss-hawk, and 

 the harpy, Avhicli has the same conformation as the two preceding, and 

 must fly in the same manner. I do not know the manner of movement 

 of the harpy, never having seen it myself, but I am sure of being right 

 in saying that its gait is in general the same as that of the goss-hawk. 



Xature has meant this bird for a forest hunter, its life is passed 

 among the trees. Its forte is not the attack of a hare or a duck in 

 open field; it would n(»t succeed in that; but it is the chase alterother 

 birds or after mammals nndei- the trees. The powerful tail of thisfani- 



Vic. 'J. — The Spaii'ow-luiwk. 



il}- of birds has Ixh'U given them to turn short corners; they needs nuist 

 seize under the trees a pigeon or a turtle dove, and this vigorous lud- 

 der enables tliem to thread the innumerable branciies and trunks of 

 trees Avitii all recpiii-ed velocity. 



There is anolher bird which accomplishes tiie same results by other 

 means, It is the great eared-owl {(indid (hie). 



Its life needs are the same; it is also in the verge of the forests among 

 the trees that its hunting exploits are ])erforme(l. It has no tail to speak 

 of; it cannot afford it; for in the hole wheiethe bird cowers in the day 

 time a tail wonld be a nuisance. What, then, is to be done :' The bird 

 brings into ])lay a iH'culiar aptitude, born of necessity ; this is a mobil- 

 ity and an <^\tiaordinary power in the mod*- of presenting the planes of 



