HAWKS AND FALCONS. 133 



sure nearly twelve feet from tip to tip of the wings, 

 when spread out. 



We next come to the Hawk tribe, which includes a 

 great variety of species of different sizes, from the largest, 

 not much less than an Eagle, to the smallest, not much 

 larger than a Blackbird. They differ, too, very greatly 

 in disposition; some, like the Eagles, being all fire, spirit, 

 and courage, while others are dull and cowardly, and 

 compared with the first-mentioned, are what Vultures 

 are to Eagles. The chief distinguishing marks between 

 the really called Falcons or Hawks and true Eagles, are 

 in the form and shape of the beak, and length of the 

 outer feathers in the wing. The beak of an Eagle is 

 comparatively long, terminating in a hook; whereas, 

 that of the Falcon or Hawk tribe is short, and begins to 

 bend from its base. In an Eagle, the first, second, and 

 third feathers of the wing are shorter than the fourth 

 and fifth: whereas, in the common Hawk, the second 



Beak of Eagle. Falcon or Hawk Tribe. 



feather is the longest, and the first and third of equal 

 length; but in the true Falcon, the first feather is the 

 longest. There may be some exceptions to the strict 

 letter of this rule, but generally speaking, it is sufficiently 

 correct for practical purposes. Owing to the greater 

 docility of several of the Hawk and Falcon species, they 

 have been made useful to mankind by being trained to 

 catch game of various sorts; and accordingly people of all 

 nations, from very early days, have taken pains in rearing 

 and training them. Above two thousand years ago, 



