114 BIRDS. 



pale ones, white -tipped; L. 18; W. 11; T. 7. E.U.S.; 

 a stout, handsome, though small hawk. 



//. ARCHIBUTEO, Brehrn. SQUIRREL HAWKS. 



1. A. lagopus, (Brunn.), var. sancii-johannis, (Gm.) 

 Ridg. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. BLACK HAWK. Chiefly 

 whitish but sometimes entirely black; L. 24; W. 18; T. 

 10. N. Am. 



12. AQUILA, Mdhring. GOLDEN EAGLES. 



1. A. chrysaetus, (L.) GOLDEN EAGLE. Glossy purplish 

 brown; head and neck golden brown; quills blackish; 

 L. 36; W. 25; T. 16. N. Am., chiefly northerly. 



13. HALIAETUS, Savigny. BALD EAGLES. 



1. H. leucocephalus, (L.) Savigny. BALD EAGLE. Dark 

 brown; head, neck and tail white (after the third year); 

 L. 36; W. 25; T. 14. N. Am., every where; feeds on 

 fishes. "A piratical parasite of the Osprey, otherwise 

 notorious as the emblem of the Republic." (Coues.) 



FAMILY XLVI. CATHARTID^E. 



(The New World Vultures.) 



Head and part of neck bare. Eyes lateral, not over- 

 hung; ears small. Bill lengthened, weak and but little 

 hooked; nostrils perforate. Wings very long and strong, 

 giving a strength and grace of flight scarcely excelled. 

 Hind toe short, and elevated; front toes long, some- 

 what webbed, with rather weak and straightish claws. 

 Large turkey -like raptores, without the strength and 

 spirit of the hawks and owls; " voracious and indiscrimi- 

 nate gormandizers of carrion and animal refuse of all 

 sorts, hence efficient and almost indispensable scavengers 

 in the warm countries where they abound." (Coues.) 



