Aquila chrysae'tos, Eagle, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 52. 



Golden Eagle, SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 12. 



JENYNS, Man. Brit. Yert. p. 80. 



GOULD, Birds of Europe. 



Falco fulvus, Aigle Koyal, TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. i. p. 38. 



AQUILA. Generic diameters. Beak strong, of moderate length, curved 

 from the cere, pointed, the cutting edges nearly straight. Nostrils oval, 

 lateral, directed obliquely downward and backward. Wings large and 

 long, the fourth quill-feather the longest. Legs strong ; tarsi feathered to 

 the junction of the toes. Feet strong ; the last phalanx of each toe 

 covered by three large scales; claws strong, hooked. 



IN the second edition of his Manual of the Birds of 

 Europe, published in 1820, M. Temminck, who is de- 

 servedly considered one of the best authorities in Orni- 

 thology, formed six divisions of the extensive genus 

 Falco of Linnaeus, under names that are equivalent to 

 the Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Kites, Buzzards, and 

 Harriers of English authors. It will be seen that these 

 divisions and their distinctions as enumerated by M. 

 Temminck are only other terms for the genera and gene- 

 ric characters of other naturalists. In accordance with 

 some of the views of modern systematic writers in Orni- 

 thology, many of the new divisions or genera will be 

 included in the present work. The characters upon 

 which these divisions are founded by their respective 

 authors will be given ; and by comparing these with the 

 characters of the genus from which the particular species 

 has been separated, the reader will be enabled to 

 judge for himself of the propriety and value of the new 

 distinctions. 



Of the Diurnal Birds of Prey, constituting the family 

 of Falconidce, the second in the order Raptores, the 

 Eagles are by far the largest in size, and of great muscular 

 power ; and although they do not possess all the charac- 

 teristics which distinguish the true Falcons, their flight is 

 powerful, and their habits destructive. 



