COOPER'S HAWK. 223 



taking of the characters of several groups, yet not in the least deserv- 

 ing to be isolated ; such as Falco borealis, which is almost as much an 

 Astur as a Buite, and has been placed by authors, according to their 

 different views, in both those groups. 



An extensive reform is evidently needed in the department of classi- 

 fication that relates to genera ; and we propose, with this view, to under- 

 take at some future period a general work, when, erecting our system 

 on a more philosophical basis, though we may restrict some, and enlarge 

 other genera, we shall in the instances to which we have alluded, as 

 well as in a multitude of others, at least place them all on an equal 

 footing. 



Among the several groups into which the Falcon tribe is divided, we 

 come to one composed of about si.xty species, well marked, and, if kept 

 within its proper bounds, very natural ; to which authors have variously 

 applied the name of AccipUer, Sparvius, and Astur, which last we have 

 adopted. 



Found in all parts of the globe, and destroying everywhere great 

 numbers of birds and small quadrupeds, the Hawks (by which English 

 name we propose to distinguish this group more particularly) closely 

 resemble each other in color and changes of plumage, especially the 

 North American and European species. They are eminently distin- 

 guished from all other Falcons by their short wings, not reaching by a 

 considerable length to the tip of their tail, which is even, or but very 

 slightly rounded ; and by their first quill feather or primary, which is 

 very short, while the fourth is constantly the longest. Their bill, sud- 

 denly curved from the base, is very strong and sharp ; their head is nar- 

 rowed before, with the eyes placed high, large, and fiery. Their feet are 

 very long, and the toes especially, the middle one of which is much the 

 longest, and all are armed with very strong sharp talons, well seconding 

 the sanguinary nature of these fierce creatures ; their outer toe is con- 

 nected at base by a membrane to the middle one. The female is always 

 one-third larger than the male, and the plumage of both, is, in most 

 species, dark above and white beneath ; in the adult barred with reddish 

 or dusky. In the young bird the color is lighter, the feathers skirted 

 with ferruginous, and the white of the under parts streaked longitudi- 

 nally with dusky, instead of being barred. The tail is uniform in color 

 with the back, with almost always a few broad bands of black, and some- 

 times of white, and a whitish tip. 



The Hawks {Astures) combine cunning with agility and strength. 

 Sudden and impetuous in their movements, they make great havoc, espe- 

 ,'ially among birds that keep in flocks, as Pigeons, Blackbirds, ^c, and 

 r,re the terror of the poultry-yard. Fearless and sanguinary, they 

 never feed, even when pressed by hunger, except on red and warm- 

 blooded animals, whose quivering limbs they tear with savage delight. 



