148 FALCONIFORMES CHAP. 
either pole the number of species decreases perceptibly. The sight 
is exceptionally keen, and the flight generally powerful and rapid ; 
Eagles and Buzzards indeed move heavily to all appearance, as 
they circle or sail around with flapping action, but the spectacle 
of the former in chase of a grouse will quickly disillusion the 
observer. Kites are still more versatile upon the wing, nor are 
the Polyborine forms always deficient in this respect, while the 
dash and speed of Hawks and Falcons in their different styles is 
proverbial." Harriers and the like may be seen buoyantly quarter- 
ing the ground for hours, poising themselves almost motionless 
aloft, or gliding in circles to great heights; and the hovering or 
stationary position on the wing, which gives the name of “ Wind- 
hover” to the Kestrel, is more general than might be supposed 
throughout the Family. Taken as a class, few birds can fly so well 
or so untiringly, though Vultures, Cranes, Storks, Albatroses, and the 
larger Gulls have even greater powers of endurance; they can, more- 
over, perch with great facility, and, while seldom running or walking 
fast, can move with freedom upon the ground, where they generally 
progress by means of hops, and aid themselves with their wings. 
Many of the Falconidae are very quarrelsome, and use their talons 
as weapons of offence, this trait being emphasized at the nesting- 
quarters, whence feathered intruders are rigorously excluded. The 
ery 1s shrill, but varies in depth; in the Peregrine Falcon it is a 
succession of short notes, in Eagles it resembles a yelp, in Buzzards 
a cat’s mew, in Kites a whistle, and so forth ; whereas in J/elierax 
it may almost be called a song. The diet varies considerably, and 
consists of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, frogs, tortoises, crabs, 
molluscs, and insects. Gypohierax, Aquila, Haliastur, Milvago, and 
Polyborus certainly eat carrion, and the last will attack newly-born 
lambs—a grievance made the most of by sheep-farmers in the case 
of Eagles ; while the larger forms kill fawns, monkeys, foxes, hares, 
and other creatures of considerable size. Buzzards keep down 
rabbits, and hunt rats and mice as assiduously as Harriers and the 
Kestrel ; the latter devours quantities of insects, as do also some of 
the Polyborinae; and the so-called “Honey” Buzzard (Pernis) gains 
its name from its fondness for grubs of bees or wasps. Kites 
work havoc among poultry; the Golden Eagle, and still more the 
Peregrine Falcon, among moor-fowl; the last two proving an 
1 Falconry is too large a subject to be considered here ; but the reader may be 
referred to the works of Salvin and Brodrick, Freeman and Salvin, and others. 
