256 AVES: RAPTORES. — XLI. 



a. Wings very long, primaries reaching to end of tail or farth:r; tail rounded ; 



nostrils large and broad Cathartes, 414. 



aa. Wings short, scarcely reaching middle of tail; tail truncate; nostrils 

 small and narrow CATHAKISTA, 415. 



414. CATHARTES Illiger. (tcadapr^, purifier.) 



801. C. aura (L.). Turkey Buzzard. Black, lustrous above 

 ami somewhat mottled with brown; skin of head and neck red. 

 L. 30. W. 22. T. 12. Am., abundant, especially S. and S. W. 

 (A South American name.) 



415. CATHARISTA Vieillot. (icadapifa, to cleanse.) 



802. C. atrata (Bartram). Carrion Crow. Uniform dull 

 black. L. 24. W. 17. T. 8. Trop. Amer., straying N. to Ohio; 

 a heavier bird than the Turkey Buzzard, although shorter. (Lat., 

 blackened.) 



Family CLIII. FALCONiD^E. (The Falcons.) 



Head fully feathered (except in the Old World Vulturbue) ; no 

 ear tufts. Eyes lateral ; eyelids provided with lashes ; usually a 

 projecting bony eyebrow ; no complete facial disk. Toes always 

 naked, and usually tarsus also ; hind toe not elevated. Bill stout, 

 strongly hooked, its base not hidden by feathers. Claws very strong 

 and sharp, the hind claw not shorter than the others. Plumage 

 usually of blended colors, barred or streaked ; changes considerable ; 

 9 usually the larger. Genera 50 ; species 300 ; abounding every- 

 where. 



a. Outer toe not reversible ; claws graduated from the largest (hind-toe) to 

 the smallest (outer). 

 b. Nostril not circular, nor with an inner bony tubercle. (Actipitrince.) 

 c. Tarsus naked, reticulate all around, much shorter than tibia. 



(/. Tail very deeply forked Elaxoides, 416. 



del. Tail merely emarginate; claws not grooved beneath. 



Elanus, 417. 

 cc. Tarsus not reticulate all around; claws grooved beneath, 

 e. Tarsus decidedly shorter than tibia. 

 f. Tarsus scutellate in front only ; not fully feathered. 



g. Toes somewhat webbed at base; cutting edge of upper man- 

 dible notched Ictixia, 418. 



gg. Toes not webbed at all; neck feathers lancecolate. 



Hali.eetus, 425. 

 ff. Tarsus almost or quite entirely feathered. 



h. Tarsus densely feathered all around down to base of toes. 



Aquila, 424. 

 hh. Tarsus densely feathered to base of toes except a bare strip 



behind Archibuteo, 423. 



fff. Tarsus scutellate in front and behind. 



