76 BIRD GALLERY. 



Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) (867), the Brown Buzzard (Hetero- 

 spizias meridionalis] (868), and the Long- winged Buzzard (Tachytriorchis 

 albicaudatus] (869), we come to the true Buzzards (Buteo}, which 

 somewhat resemble small Eagles in their flight and habits, preying 

 on the smaller mammals such as rabbits, rats, and mice, as well as 

 reptiles and insects. They do not capture their prey on the wing, and 

 consequently seldom kill birds except young poultry. They must be 

 regarded as useful birds to both farmer and agriculturist. A very 

 handsome species is the Red-backed Buzzard (B. erythronotus) (870) 



[Case 48 1 fr m S. America. The Common Buzzard (B. buteo} (875) is still fairly 

 numerous in various parts of Great Britain. As will be seen from the 

 specimens exhibited on the lowest shelf of the Case, the plumage varies 

 greatly, some old birds being almost uniform dark brown above and 

 below. A large South American form will be found in the Giant 

 Buzzard (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) (876). 



[Case 48.1 Next come the Buzzard-Hawks of America represented by several 

 genera, Buteola (877), Asturina (878), and Rupornis (879), and the very 

 handsome black-and-white species such as the White-spotted Buzzard 

 (Leucopternis melanops) (88 1 ) . 



The Harpies include six very large powerful species placed in five 

 genera, of which four are represented in the Case. The Crowned Harpy 

 (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus) (884), the Guiana Crested Harpy (Morphnus 

 guianensis} (885), and the true Harpy (Thrasaetus harpyid) (886) are 

 all long-crested forms from South and Central America; and the latter, 

 whose range extends into Mexico and Texas (where the species is locally 

 known as the " Lobo volante " or " Winged Wolf "), is one of the most 

 splendid as well as the most powerful of all the Birds of Prey. It feeds 

 chiefly on mammals, including fawns, monkeys, foxes, and moderate 

 sized pigs. An allied form, Harpy opsis novae-guinea (887), found in 

 New Guinea, has the general appearance of a great Goshawk and is 

 said to prey on Tree-Wallabies. The sixth species is the great Monkey- 

 eating Eagle (Pithecophagajefferyi) (887 a) from the Philippine Islands. 



[Case 48.] The Bearded Vultures or Lammergeiers (888) form the next sub- 

 family Gypaetinee, which includes two very large species, one found 

 from South Europe to the Himalaya and the other in Africa. 

 They are much like Vultures in their habits but not such foul feeders. 

 Like the Egyptian Vultures (Neophron] they are said to obtain the 

 marrow from bones by carrying them up into the air and letting them 

 fall from a great height, and land-tortoises are similarly treated. Hence 

 the name " Bone-breaker " by which they are often known. Their flight 

 is grand in the extreme, but the stories of their having carried off children 

 are highly improbable, for in spite of their spread of wing they lack 

 the strength of foot to do so. 



