12 FALCONIM. 



Aquila chrysactos, Eagle., FLEM. Brit. An. p. 52. 



Golden Eagle, SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 1 2. 



JENYNS, Man. Brit. Vert. p. 80. 



GOULD, Birds of Europe, pt. vi. 



Falcofulvus, Aigle Royal, TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. i. p. 38. 



AQUILA. Generic Characters. 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 Eu- 

 rope, published in 1820, M. Temminck, who is deservedly 

 considered one of the best authorities in Ornithology, formed 

 six divisions of the extensive genus Falco of Linnaeus, un- 

 der 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 generic characters of other naturalists. In 

 accordance with some of the views of modern systematic 

 writers in Ornithology, many of the new divisions or 

 genera will be included in the present work. The cha- 

 racters 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 

 Falconidte, the second in the order Raptor es, the Eagles 

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

 and although they do not possess all the characteristics 

 which distinguish the true Falcons, their flight is powerful, 

 and their habits destructive. 



