COOPER'S HAWK. 221 



the Liniiean system they form the order AcciPlTKES, and were, by that 

 father of the science, distributed into three great natural divisions, 

 which comprise nearly, if not quite, one-fifteenth part of all the known 

 species of birds. The ulterior arrangement of one of these groups, the 

 genus Fah'o of Linn^, at present composed of between two and three 

 hundred species, has much divided the opinions of naturalists. ^ From 

 the majestic Eagle, the terror of the husbandman, to the feeblest Ilawk, 

 preying on grasshoppers, it is undeniable that there exists in all these 

 birds, a great resemblance in some of the most prominent characteristics ; 

 which, being found to predominate in the Fish-hawk, as well as the 

 Kite, and all other species of the Falcon tribe, however dissimilar, 

 indicate their separation as a peculiar family from all other birds. Eut 

 that they are susceptible of division into smaller groups of inferior 

 rank, no practical ornithologist will for a moment deny. Whether these 

 minor groups shall be considered as trivial and secondary, or whether 

 some of them ought not to be admitted as distinct and independent 

 genera, is a question that has been much agitated, and respecting which, 

 ornithologists will probably for a long time continue to disagree. 

 Equally great authorities might be cited in favor of either of these 

 opinions, which like many others of more importance that have divided 

 mankind from the beginning of the world, may perhaps after all be 

 considered as merely a dispute about words. 



Admitting, however, as seems to be done by all parties, that this 

 great genus may be subdivided with propriety, we look upon it as alto- 

 gether a secondary question, whether we shall call the minor groups 

 genera, subgenera, or sections ; and we deem it of still less consequence, 

 in a philosophical view, whether the names by which these groups are 

 designated, be taken from a learned, or a vernacular language. It is 

 our intention to pursue a middle course. We are convinced of the 

 necessity of employing numerous subdivisions, not only in this, but also 

 in its allied genus Strix. These, however, we cannot agree to admit as 

 genera, preferring to call them subgenera, and giving them a name ; 

 but when having occasion to mention a species belonging to any of them, 

 to employ the name of the great genus. 



The desire of avoiding too great a multiplication of groups, has 

 caused some, even of the first ornithologists of our time, to employ 

 sections that are not natural, and with false or inapplicable characters ; 

 and, as if they would compel nature to conform to their preconceived 

 and narrow views, after having assigned decided limits to their groups, 

 to force into them species not only widely difi'erent, but that do not 

 even possess the artificial character proposed. We shall not imitate 

 this irrational example. It shall rather be our object to compose 

 natural groups, and, in obedience to this principle, whenever we meet 

 with a group, or even a single species, clearly insulated, it shall at 



