312 Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornitholog^i 



On the Groups of the Falconid.«. 



In entering on the investigation of any extensive group in 

 Natural History, the surest guide to the accurate distribution of 

 the individuals that compose it, is to fix our attention on those in 

 ■which the typical character that distinguishes the group is most 

 fully devoloped. This point being determined, we descend with 

 ease to those more remote species, which partially deviate from 

 the type, and partake of the characters of the next adjoining 

 groups that are connected with their own. 



On looking for the typical character among the numerous 

 species that compose the Family of Falconidw, or the genus Falco 

 of Linnaeus, we may at first thought feel inclined to assign the 

 place of superiority to those which display the size and strength 

 of the Eagles : — Aquilce maximus honos, maxima et vis.* — It is 

 not however in such qualities that the perfection of the present 

 group consists. The Family of the Vultures which is immediately 

 connected with it, possesses these qualities even to a greater extent, 

 and there they may form a ground for typical preeminence. But 

 the present group is distinguished from the other Birds of Prey 

 more by their courage than their size, more by their dexterity iii 

 pursuing and seizing their prey, than their powers of body. And 

 the species which carry this dexterity to the greatest extent, and 

 whose powers of flight are most conducive to the rapid seizure of 

 their prey upon the wing, are those which appear to be most 

 endowed with the characteristick traits of the family. The same 

 groups also possess a character that equally distinguishes them, in 

 that superiour intelligence, if I may so call it, at least in that 

 generosity and tractableness of disposition which brings Ihem 

 within the dominion of man. Taking these habits and disposi- 

 tions exclusively into consideration, we may distinguish the 

 groups of the Falconidce into two separate divisions, which may 

 be considered + topical and aberrant; and which the common 



* Plin. Lib. X. c. 3. 

 T For the signification of the terms typical or normal, and aberrant, I have 

 to refer the reader to the works of my distinguished friend Mr. Mac Leay, to 

 fvliom 1 have before alluded. See particularly MHora Entomologicae," j>a«j»j; 

 and " Linnean Transaction^' Vol. XIV. Art. III. 



