120 AVES. 



HIBHOFALCO, Cuvier'. 



The gerfalcons have wing quills similar to those of the other noble birds, 

 which they perfectly resemble in disposition ; but their 

 beak has only an emargination like that of the ignoble 

 ones. Only one species is well known. 



F. candicans. (The Gerfalcon.) One fourth larger 

 than the falcon, and the most highly esteemed by falconers. It is chiefly 

 obtained from the north ; its usual plumage is brown above, with an edging 

 of paler points on each feather, and transverse lines on the coverts and quills* 

 The second section of the great genus Fa/co is that of the 



IGNOBLE BIRDS OF PREY. 



So called, because they cannot be easily employed in falconry ; a tribe much 

 more numerous than that of the nobles, and which it 

 is also necessary to subdivide considerably. The fourth 

 quill of their wings is almost always the longest, and 

 the first is very short which produces the same effect 

 as if their wing were obliquely truncated at the tip, 

 whence, cteteris paribus, result diminished powers of 

 flight ; their beak also is not so well armed, there being 



no lateral tooth near its point, but a mere sh'ght emargination about the middle 



of its length. 



AQUILA, Brisson. 



The Eagles which constitute the first tribe, have a very strong beak, 

 straight at base, and only curved towards the point. Among them we 

 find the largest species of the genus, and the most powerful of all the birds 

 of prey. 



The Eagles are now subdivided into Aquila proper (to which belongs the 

 Ring-tailed Eagle), the Haliaetus of Savigny, or Fisher Eagles of Cuvier 

 (the Pygargus and Bald Eagle), Pandion (the Osprey), Circaetus Harpyia, 

 (where we find the " Great Harpy of America," that possesses such strength 

 of beak as to be able to cleave a man's skull), and Morphnus, differing in 

 certain peculiarities of the tarsi, claws, and wings. 



ASTUR, Uechstcin. 



The Goshawks, which form the second division of the Ignobles, like the 

 last three tribes of Eagles, have wings shorter than their tail ; but their beak 

 is curved from its base, as in all those which are to follow. We particularly 

 designate as GOSHAWKS those which have rather short and scutellated tarsi. 



The name of SPARROWHAWK (Nisus, Cuv.) is generally appropriated to 



Hierax, Hiero-falcn, Sacred Fakon, &c. names connected with the superstition* 

 f the Egyptians respecting certain birds of prey. Gerfalcon is a corruption ot 

 Hierofalco. 



