FALCONIDAE 



159 



tail-coverts and- breast ; A. pectoralis of Brazil is brownish-black 

 above, slightly relieved by white, the tail being greyish with black 

 bands, the collar and chest rufous, the fore-neck and alxlomen 

 white, streaked and barred respectively with black. A. minullus 

 inhabits South Africa, A. madagascariensis Madagascar, A. cir- 

 rocejyhalus Australia, Tasmania, and Papuasia, A. chilensis Chili, 

 A. guttatus Paraguay and Bolivia, A. jnleatus Brazil, A. collaris 

 A^ew Granada ; while the very robust A. cooperi occupies North 

 America southwards to Mexico, and A.fuscus the same country to 

 Panama. In A. sv,bniger {tinus), of Central and South America, 

 and some other species, the young are red above. Erythrotriorcliis 

 radicdus of East and Central Australia, a rufous bird with dark 

 markings, which lays an egg like that of a Sparrow-Hawk, may 

 perhaps be placed here, as may Mcgatriorchis doriae of New Guinea, 

 in which the blackish upper parts have lighter transverse stripes, 

 and the white imder parts longitudinal dusky streaks. 



Sub-fam. 4. Aquilinae. The long-legged Morphnus guianen- 

 sis, ranging from Panama to Amazonia, is black, with three ashy 

 tail-bars, brown head and chest, and white rufous-banded abdomen ; 

 the line crest is brown with black tip, the wing- and tail-coverts 

 are varied with white. This bird haunts thick woods near water, 

 and in habits appears to resemble the next two genera, which have 

 similar soft plumage, short wings and long tails. 3 taeniatus of 

 Ecuador has broader and blacker bars below. Harpyopsis novae 

 guineae of New Guinea, and Thrasaetus hmpyia, the Harpy, extend- 

 ing from Mexico to Paraguay and Bolivia, have blackish-grey upper 

 parts with a tendency to darker transverse markings ; the tail shews 

 six black bars ; and the white under parts exhibit a greyish zone 

 on the chest. The former species is, moreover, relieved by white 

 above, while a bifurcated grey crest surmounts the white head 

 and neck of the latter. Marvellous stories have been told of the 

 fierceness and strength of the last-named, but despite its huge bill ' 

 and legs, it seems never to attack man, though defending itself with 

 spirit when wounded. Found in low-lying forests and near rivers, 

 it may be seen wheeling in circles with slow heavy flight, or 

 digesting its meals on low boughs of trees. The diet consists 

 largely of mammals, including fawns, monkeys, foxes and peccaries ; 

 the nest is in high trees or cliffs. The Indians are very proud of 

 a living specimen, while the down is used for decoration, and the 

 feathers for arrow-making. Harpyopsis devours wallabies. 



