316 Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornithology. 



nated, according to the usual term applied to the most typical of 

 the group, Stirps Aquilina or Eagles. 



These five groups into which the Falconidce thus branch out, 

 may be exhibited at one view in the following order. I arrange 

 them according to their typical and aberrant characters, noticing 

 those habits and peculiarities of form only, which are most con- 

 spicuous, and most important in the general distribution of the 

 family. 



Typical Groups. 



f Alse breves. 

 Rostra brevia, prseci- I 

 pue dentata. Pra?da< 

 aeria. 



(_Alae longse. 



< Stirps Accipitrina. 

 \ Hawks. 



^Stirps Falconina. 

 \ Falcons. 



Aberrant Groups. 



("Rostra a basi adunca. {Slirps Buteortina. 

 Alee longae. ( Buzzards. 



Rostra longa, aut sub- 

 longa, haud dentata. < 

 Praida terrestrii. 



Rostra a basi adunca. 

 Cauda furcata. Alas 

 longissimae. 



Rostra ad apicem solum | 

 adunca. 



* Alae longae. 



* * Alae breves. ( 



) Stirps Milvina. 

 I Kites. 



I Stirps Aquilina. 

 I Eagles. 



When we descend into the details of any group, which is subdi- 

 vided, like that before us, into stirpes returning into themselves, 

 it is of little consequence at which subdivision we commence our 

 examination. Forming a circular series, they exhibit no natural 

 break upon which we can fix as a regular land-mark to start from. 

 It is adviseable, nevertheless, to have some uniform plan of pro- 

 ceeding ; and the most obvious, and perhaps preferable mode ap- 

 pears to be that of our commencing our inquiries with the first of 

 the typical stirpes ; and it is indeed, I believe, the usual course 

 adopted. As this is however a mere matter of option, and depends 

 much on the particular views in which individuals are accustomed 

 to conduct their researches, I am more willing to adopt the mode 

 of giving my attention in the first setting out to that extreme sub- 

 division of any group which is immediately connected with the 



