286 RAPTORES. 



is much annoyed by parasitic fly-ticks. Unlike the eagles, pairs 

 of these birds, after rearing their young, "become as shy to each 

 other as if they had never met, and will " chase and rob each other 

 of their prey on all occasions." Farmers, to whom this bird is 

 known as the Hen-hawk, usually regard it with anything but com- 

 placency. 



Other species of the genus Buleo found in the United States, 

 are the RED-SHOULDERED BUZZARD, B. lineatus, (Lat. marked 

 with lines,) of the Western and Southern sections of the Union ; 

 the Rough-legged Buzzard, B. lagopus, (Gr. hare-footed.") found 

 east of the Alleghanies, also in the north of Europe, and noted 

 as a great destroyer of meadow mice. 



The HONEY BUZZARD, Pernis, (Norman, perner, to take,) apt- 

 vorous, (Lat. bee-eating.) is distinguished by having a feathered 

 band about the eyes. This bird is found in the warmer parts of 

 Europe and of Asia. Its food does not consist of honey, as its 

 specific name seems to indicate, but of bee.s, wasps, and their lar- 

 vae. It is a bird of passage, leaving Europe in the beginning of 

 winter. Its length is about two feet ; expanse of the wings 

 fifty -two inches. 



FOURTH SUB-FAMILY. The FALCONS, Proper. 



Fakonina. (Lat. /aZco, a falcon.) 



(Falco is the typical genus of the Falconidce, and includes the 

 greater portion of this sub-family.) 



The PEREGRINE or SULTAN FALCON, JP. peregrinus, (Lat. wan- 

 dering,) is one of the most remarkable members of the Falcon 

 family. It ranges over Europe, the north of Asia, America and 

 New Holland. When full grown it is a foot and a half in 

 length. We have already referred to the Falcon's strongly 

 notched beak. The beak is of a blue color, approaching to black 

 at the point; the back and upper surface of the bird is of a 

 bluish slate color ; the breast reddish white, with dark brown 

 transverse bars. On account of the large size of this bird's feet, 

 it is called the Great- footed Hawk ; from -its successful chase of 

 ducks, it is sometimes named the Duck-Havvk. The flight of the 

 Peregrine Falcon is amazingly rapid. It does not merely dash 

 at its prey and grasp it with his claws, but strikes its victim with 

 its breast, and actually stuns it with the violence of the blow be- 

 fore seizing it with its claws. 



Peculiar interest attaches to the "Sultan" bird from its connec- 

 tion with falconry, an art of great antiquity and extensively prac- 

 ticed by English nobles from the period of the Heptarchy to the 



