RAPTORES : FALCONIDjE. 133 



Southern States, is about fifteen inches long, the upper 

 parts dark lead-color, the head and under parts dark 

 cinereous, the quills and tail brownish black. 



The Genus Rostrhamus comprises the Black Kite, R. 

 sociabilis, D'Orb., of Florida and southward, which is six- 

 teen inches long, black except the tail at the base and 

 under tail coverts, which are white ; bill very long and 

 slender. 



The Genus Circus is cnaracterized by a large head, 

 short compressed bill, face partially encircled by a ring 

 or ruff of projecting feathers, tarsi long and slender, and 

 the claws rather slender and weak. This genus com- 

 prises fifteen species, only one of which is found in North 

 America. 



The Marsh Hawk or Harrier, C. hudsonius, Vieill., of 

 North America and Cuba, is nineteen to twenty-one 

 inches long, the wing fifteen and a half inches ; the male 

 sixteen to eighteen inches long, and the wing fourteen 

 and a half inches. The upper parts and breast are pale 

 bluish-cinereous, the upper tail coverts and under parts 

 white, the latter with small cordate or hastate spots of 

 light ferruginous. 



About seventy species of eagles belong to the Fal- 

 conidae. 



The Genus Aquila is characterized by a large and 

 strong form, large, strong compressed bill, long and 

 pointed wings, short and very strong tarsi, feathered to 

 the toes, and sharp, strong, and curved claws. 



The Golden Eagle or Ring-tailed Eagle, A. canadensis, 

 Cass., of all North America, is thirty -three to forty inches 

 long, the wing twenty-five inches ; the male thirty to 

 thirty-five inches, the wing twenty to twenty-three inches. 

 The head and neck behind light brownish-fulvous, tail 

 at base white, terminal portion glossy black, all other 

 parts rich purplish-brown, frequently nearly black on 



