Order 1. ACCIPITKES. 167 



The Marsh-eagles {Circdettis, Vieillot) — 



Hold a sort of mediate station between the Ernes, the Ospreys, and tlie Buzzards. They have the 

 •wings of the Eagles and Buzzards, and the reticulated tarsi of the Ospreys. Such are 



The European Marsh-eagle, or Jean-le-blanc, (F. gallicvs, Gm.), — the beak of wliich cur\'es more rapidly than 

 in other Eag;les, and the toes are proportionally shorter. It exceeds the Osprey in size, and inhabits Europe, 

 preying chiefly on reptiles. 



Le Bateleur of Le Vaillant, {F. ecatida/iis, Shaw). — An African species, remarkable for the extreme shortness 

 of its tail, and its beautifully variegated plumage. [It constitutes the division Helotarsus of Smith, synonymous 

 with Terathopias of Lesson, differing in several particulars from the others, and particularly in the baldness of 

 its cheeks. The Bateleur preys on young Gazelles, young Ostriches, &c., and also on putrid carrion, disgorging 

 the latter into the throats of its young, as observed of the Vultures.] 



America produces Eagles with long wings like the foregoing, and naked scutellated tarsi, in which 

 a more or less considerable proportion of the sides of the head, and sometimes of the throat, is 

 denuded of feathers. The general name of 



Caracaras — 



Has been applied to them. From this group M. Vieillot has made his genera Daptrius, Ibycter, 

 and Polyhorus, [partly] according to the greater or less extent if the bare part of the head. 

 {^Phalcobanus, d'Orbigny, Gymnops and Milvayo, Spix, have also been applied to divisions of the 

 Caracaras. These Birds are carrion-feeders, and pass their time chiefly on the ground, amongst the 

 herbage, where their gait is ambulatory. All are from the warm regions of America.] 



The Coronards, or short-winged Fisher-eagles, {Harpyia*, Cuv. ; \_Thrasdetos, G. Gray] ) — 



Are also American Eagles, which have the tarsi very thick and strong, reticulated, and half-covered 

 with feathers, as in the Ernes, from which they differ chiefly in the shortness of their wings ; their 

 beak and talons are stronger than in any other tribe. 



The Harpy Coronard or Eagle (F. harpyia, and F. cristatus, Lin.).— Of all Birds, this possesses the most terrific 

 beak and talons ; it is superior in size to the common Eagle. On the back of its head are elongated, feathers, 

 forming a sort of fan-like crest upon the nape, which, when erected, impart to its physiognomy a resemblance to 

 the tufted Owls : like them, also, its external toe is frequently directed backward. It is said to be so strong, as to 

 have sometimes cleft a Man's skull with a blow of its beak. The Sloths are its ordinary food, and it not unfre- 

 quently carries off Fawns, 



The Eagle-hawks (Morphnus, Cuv.) — 



Have, like the preceding, wings shorter than the tail ; but their elevated and slender tarsi, and their 

 feeble toes, oblige us to distinguish them. Some have the tarsi naked and scutellated. 



The Crested Eagle-hawk of Guiana (F. ^ui'nnenW*, Daud.), resembles singularly, in its colours and niarkings, 

 the Harpy Coronard of the same country ; but is not so large, and its naked and scutellated tarsi sufficiently 

 distinguish it. 



F. urubitinga, Lin., is crestless. This handsome species hunts in inundated grounds. [Certain other uncreated 

 species, with very long tarsi, constitute the Limniietos, Vigors. 



Others have elevated tarsi, feathered throughout their length [the Spizdedis of Vieillot]. 



The Tufted Black Eagle-hawk of Africa (F. occipitalis, Daud.), — inhabits the whole of that continent. 



The Variegated Eagle-hawk (F. ortiatits, Daud. ; F. superbus and coronatus, Shaw : Harpyia braccata, Spix, 

 refers to the young). — A handsome species from South America, which varies from black and white to deep brown. 

 [Certain Indian species compose the Nisaetos of Hodgson.] 



Finally, there are in America some Birds vpith beaks as in all the preceding ; very short, reticulated 

 tarsi, half-feathered in front ; wings shorter than the tail ; but the most distinctive character 

 of which consists in their nostrils, which are almost closed, and resemble a fissure. A small tribe may 

 be made of them, designated 



The Cvmindues {Cymindis, Cuv.). 



Such is 



The small Cayenne Hawk of Buffbn (F. cayennensis, Gm.) ; which has another peculiar character, by possesning 

 a small tooth at the bend of its beak. 



[F. hamattu, Illiger, ranged by the author in Cymindis, composes the Rostrhamus of Lesson : its beak is very 

 narrow, the upper mandible resembling a long and slendsr claw : tail slightly furcate. 



• Thii term yr^t previously applied to a sQbg<!nuB of Cheiroptera, — Kd. 



