8 FALCONID.E. 



Aqiiila chrysaitos, Eagle, Flem. Brit. An. p. 52. 



„ ,, Golden Eagle, Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 12. 



,, ,, ,, ,, Jenyns, Man. Brit. Vert. p. 80. 



,, ,, ,, ,, Gould, Birds of Europe, pt. vi. 



Falcofitlvus, Aigle Royal, Temm. ]\Ian. d'Ornith. vol. i. p. 38. 



Aquila. Generic Characters. — Beak strong, of moderate length, curved 

 from the cere, pointed, the cutting edges nearly straight. Nostrils oval, lateral, 

 directed obliquely downward and backward. Wings large and long, the fourth 

 quill-feather the longest. Legs strong ; tarsi feathered to the junction of the 

 toes. Feet strong ; the last phalanx of each toe covered by three large scales ; 

 claws strong, hooked. 



In the second edition of his Manual of the Birds of Eu- 

 rope, published in 1820, M. Temminck, who is deservedly- 

 considered one of the best avithorities in Ornithology, formed 

 six divisions of the extensive genus Falco of Linneeus, un- 

 der names that are equivalent to the Eagles, Falcons, 

 Hawks, Kites, Buzzards, and Harriers of English authors. 

 It Avill be seen that these divisions and their distinctions as 

 enumerated by M. Temminck are only other terms for the 

 genera and generic characters of other naturalists. Follow- 

 ing out some of the views of modern systematic writers in 

 Ornithology, many of the new divisions or genera will be in- 

 cluded in the present work. The characters upon which 

 these divisions are founded by their respective authors will 

 be given ; and by comparing these with the characters of the 

 genus from which the particular species has been separated, 

 the reader will be enabled to judge for himself of the pro- 

 priety and value of the new distinction. 



Of the Diurnal Birds of Prey, constituting the family of 

 Falconida, the second in the order Raptores, the Eagles 

 are by far the largest in size, and of great muscular power ; 

 and although they do not possess all the characteristics which 

 distinguish the true Falcons, their flight is powerful, and 

 their habits destructive, 



The Golden Eagle, though occasionallv seen and some- 



