. On the Groups, of the Falconidcs. " 315. 



Included in any of the preceding stirpes, are united among them- 

 selves, as well as separated from all the others, by the bill being 

 lengthened, nearly straight at the base, and hooked only at the 

 apex. Among them are to be found the most powerful birds of 

 the family, and the most destructive in their habits ; their size and 

 strength enabling them to extend their ravages even over the 

 larger animals. They are deficient however in those powers of 

 pursuing their prey upon the wing which belong to the more typi- 

 tal groups ; their flight, although powerful, not possessing that 

 quickness in turning, and that agility in pursuit, which is exhibited 

 in the Hazcks and Falcons. They are thus confined in their ra- 

 vages, in common with the other aberrant stirpes, to the prey which 

 they can seize on the ground.* In the lengthened form of the bill 

 they are allied to the family of Vulturidw, which immediately pre- 

 cedes them in the general arrangement of the Raptorial order ; 

 while they differ from them in external character by their heads 

 being entirely covered with feathers. The present stirps consists 

 of a considerable number of species, and is separated also into se- 

 veral generick groups, differing partially in habits and external 

 character ; some being confined to the land in quest of their prey, 

 while others visit the waters for that purpose ; some again being 

 characterized by a length of wing, while others, connecting the 

 group with the short-winged llaicks, are noted for the shortness of 

 that member. The whole however are sufficiently united among 

 themselves by general habits and cliaracter, and may be denomi- 



• Tliis (Striking diflerence in tlie habits of the Falconidee was not passed over 

 by the ancients, v\ ho vvcicniuch more dilif^ont observers of Nature than we are 

 III general inclined to admit them to lia ve been. Aristotle expressly refers to it : 

 yitn o^ rioi itfxxur — Oia^tfovai $'aX}\.riXuv' oi (j.n ya^ ccvtuv intt T*jy yris 

 xa^riij.tvnii rvvTova-i t»)» •Kefiirrtpocv xmi avvap'Tra.yoviTi, nnrofx.cvris S'ou Siyya- 

 101(711' (ii oiTTi divopov lAiv ri rims xKkau y.a.^'/ii/.iynv ^lopivoviTiv, itri Tijr yi)S 

 «'ov<r»is v iJ-iTiupov ovK aurotTcci' ii St ot/r' ivi rris yns ovt^ £7r' aAAoti 

 ux^ri/^ircs ^tyyavovcifj oAAoc wero/iAivtiv triipmrai Xa/a./Savfo. De Animal. 

 Lib. ix. c. 2-1. Pliny eijually distini^uishes the family by these differences in 

 habit. Disiinetio •leneruni ex aviditate: alii non nisi ex terr!l rapiunt 

 avcm: alii non niiii circa arborcs volitantem : alii sedentcm in sublimi ; alij, 

 voliicnlcmin aprrto. Lib. x. caj). y, ' 



