OF NEW ENGLAND. 345 



27. The PalconidSD are the typical Raptores, charac- 

 terized by not having the ear-tufts, forward-looking eyes, and 

 concealed nostrils of the owls, or the naked head, elevated 

 hind-toe, and slightly webbed front- toes of our vultures (Ca- 

 thartidce, 28). "The eyes, as a rule (but not always), are 

 sunken beneath a projecting superciliary shelf, conferring a 

 decided and threatening gaze." The tarsus is either naked or 

 feathered, but the feathers above it are long and flowing (with 

 certain exceptions, as in the fish-hawks). 



The hawks and eagles are essentially diurnal birds of prey, 

 not usually feeding on carrion. Some nest on cliffs, some on 

 the ground, and others in the hollows of trees ; but most of 

 them build nests in trees, chiefly of sticks. The eggs of each 

 set are from two to six, and are laid early in the season. They 

 are rarely subspherical like owls' eggs, but are for the most 

 part whitish, and generally blotched. 



In this family there are several distinct groups. 



The harriers (Genus I). Face with a slight ruff, forming an 

 imperfect disk (such as belongs to the owte). Flight usually 

 low, somewhat irregular, but not rapid. Nest built on the 

 ground. Our species is characterized by the white upper tail- 

 coverts. 



The falcons (II). Upper mandible with a distinct pointed 

 tooth behind the notch. 4 Highly raptorial birds of medium 

 size. Flight in some respects inferior to that of 



The true hawks (III, IV). Tarsi not scutellate behind, or 

 feathered to the toes, which are always webbed at the base. 

 Birds of comparatively slender form, with a rapid, protracted 

 flight, occasionally interrupted by straight sailing, even at 

 short intervals. They capture smaller birds with rapidity and 

 energy. 



The buzzards, including the eagles (V, VI, VII, VIII). 

 Without the characteristics of the other groups. (In VI, VII, 

 tarsus feathered to the toes.) Heavy and robust birds, with a 



4 The birds of this genus have been distributed into several subgencra not 

 here prescuted. See PI. 1, fig. 27. 



