66 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



1881 (Le Berier, N. O. C. Bui. 6:126), Shelby Center, May 28, 1892 

 (Posson, Auk 16:195). Auburn, April 11, 191 1 (F. J. Stupp), and Steuben 

 co., July ii, 1909, Burtch, Auk, 28:112. Mr Ottomar Reinecke reports 

 that he and the late Charles Linden watched a bird of this species for some 

 time as it flew about the village of West Seneca, near Buffalo, N. Y., 

 one day in June 1884. Mr Dana C. Gillett also reports it from Tona- 

 wanda swamp, May 1899. The Black vulture therefore must be regarded 

 as a rare and irregular visitor to New York, not appearing regularly 

 in any part of the State like the Turkey vulture, but straggling within 

 our boundaries only at long intervals. 



Suborder FALCONES 



Hawks, Falcons, Ospreys etc. 



Family BUTEONIDAE 



Buzzards, Eagles, True Hawks, Kites and Harriers 



Nostrils oval and impervious; nasal septum, however, is incomplete; 

 the palate without a median ridge; the scapular process of the coracoid 

 not reaching furculum; tarsus shorter than tibia, scutellate in front, partly 

 feathered; wings ample, usually somewhat rounded in shape; tail usually 

 of 12 rectrices; the legs well feathered, usually below the heel joint, 

 and the " flag " well developed; the basipterygoid process is wanting, 

 and the plumage is af tershafted ; general build heavy. 



Beside the subfamily Buteoninae, recognized by some authors, which 

 is the most typical of this family and includes our common buzzards or 

 soaring hawks and eagles, is the subfamily Circinae or harriers, represented 

 by our Marsh hawk, which is characterized by weak beak; long tarsus, 

 bare and equal to the tibia in length; long, narrow, pointed wings; long 

 slender tail; the legs long and slender; the general build light and slim; and 

 a facial disc forming an incomplete ruff; as well as ears with large external 

 opening and a conch, and a soft, fluffy plumage, which characters link 

 them with the owls. Among the harriers, the sexes are usually unlike. 

 The nest is placed upon the ground, contrary to the usual practice in this 

 family. 



The subfamily Milvinae, including the kites, have very weak beak 



