HARRIERS. 195 



suit or quick movements are not employed, but 

 habits of watchfulness by soaring may be per- 

 ceived, or a slow but persevering flight. Their 

 form, with the exception of Circus, as may be 

 surmised from these remarks, is heavy, rather 

 inelegant ; the expansion of the wings ample, 

 but of that rounded and hollow construction 

 which is unfavourable for great activity. The 

 True Buzzards seem to lead to the Eagles on 

 the one hand, and to Astur in the Accipitrine 

 circle on the other ; the connection of the Kites 

 to Nauclerus is at once perceived, while the 

 peculiarity of the facial disk in the Harriers at 

 once brings us to the Owls. 



BUTEO. Generic characters. Bill weak, 

 slightly bending from the base., compressed, 

 edge of the mandible very slightly lobed, 

 cere ? arge, nostrils pyreform, with the 

 narrow point placed upwards and forwards, 

 situate obliquely ; wings long, ample, first 

 quill shortest, equaling the seventh ; fourth 

 longest, the four first with the webs deeply 

 notched, decreasing in depth with the fifth, 

 and afterwards becoming limited ; legs and 

 feet short but strong ; claws short, not much 

 hooked. 



Note. Runs into Aquila by the common form 



