158 Div. 1. VERTEBRATE ANIMALS.— AYES, Class 2 



The Asturines {Asturina, Vieillot) — 



Have been generally placed next. They have the nostrils lunulated ; the bill straight at its base ; 

 wings short, and the tarsi also short and somewhat slender. 

 A. cinerea, Vieillot, a species from Guiana, may be cited in exemplification.] 



The Hawks {Asiur, Bechstein ; Dtpclalion, Savigny), — 



Which form the second division of the Ignobles, have wings shorter than the tail, as in tlie last three 

 tribes of Eagles ; but their beak curves from its base, as in all that follow. 



The Goshawks {Astur, as restricted) — 

 Have the tarsi [more distinctly] scutellated, and comparatively short. 



The European Goshawk {F. paliinibariux, Lin.), equals the Jer Falcon in size, but always stoops obliquely on i s 

 quarry. Falconers, however, soiiietinies use it for the weaker kinds of game. It is common in the hilly and 

 secondary mountain rang^es of Europe. 



Among foreign Gosliawks, we may notice that of New Holland (F. Nova Jlolland/ie, White), which is often 

 entirely snow-white ; but it appears that these white individuals constitute a variety only of a bird of the same 

 country, pale ash-coloured above, white below, with vestiges of pale undulations. 



VVe may approximate to the Goshawk certain American Birds, with short wings and tarsi, the latter 

 reticulated. [These are 



The Nicaguas (Herpetholheres, Vieillot ; Dcedalion, Vigors), — 

 A strongly characterized division, interesting, as presenting evidently a modification of the peculiar 

 Osprey type, to which genus they alone appear to be allied. It is particularly desirable, therefore, that 

 their anatomy should be ascertained.] 



The Nicagua of Azara, or Laughinij Falcon, (F. cachinnans, Lin.) : so named from its cry. From the marshes of 

 South America, where it preys on reptiles and fish. [Its colouring, and the texture of its plumage, are the r-anje 

 as in the Osprey ; and it lias similar short feathers on the tibia. F. niclanops, Lath, and F. sufjintor, Lin., apper- 

 tain to this division ; the latter, however, constituting the restricted Physcta of Vieillot.] 



The Sparrow-hawks {Nisus, Cuv. ; [^Accipiier, Ray]) — 



Have longer and more slender tarsi than the Gosliawks, [still shorter wings, and the middle toe much 

 lengthened] ; but the passage from one to the otlicr of these divisions is almost insensible. 



Our common Sparrow-hawk {F. 7iisus, Lin.) has the same colouring as the Goshawk, but is much less in size ; 

 notwithstanding which it is employed in falconry. There are foreign species still smaller; but also some that are 

 much larger, as 



The Chaunting Hawk (F. musicus, Daud.), — a native of Africa, where it pursues Partridges and Hares, and 

 builds in trees. It is the only bird of prey known that sings agreeably, [by which, however, cannot be meant that 

 it inflects the voice, as in those Passerine Birds which have additional laryngeal muscles. This bird, — and there is 

 more than one species here confounded, — has a much weaker bill, and longer wings, than the true .Sparrow-hawks ; 

 it has probably been made the type of a separate division. 



The Cymnogetiyii of Vieillot may also be introduced here. It is a Hawk with very long wings, lengthened ami 

 distinctly scutellated tarsi, and short toes, but the most distinctive character of which consists in its being naked 

 above the bill and on the cheeks. The only siiecies, G. madnyasrariensis, is grey, with round black spots on the 

 wings, and the lower parts below the breast transversely rnyed : it bears some resemblance to the Secretary. 



The species of Hawks displays the maximum sexual disparity of size, in favour of the female.] 



The Kites {Milvus, Bechst.) — 

 Have short tarsi, and feeble toes and claws, which, added to a beak equally disiiroportioiiod to their 

 size, render them the most cowardly of the whole group: they are further distinguislu d by tlieir 

 excessively long wings, and by their forked tail, in consequence of which their flight is very swift 

 and easy. 



Some have the tarsi very short, reticulated, and half-feathered above, like the last small tribe of 

 Eagles : [their claws, save that on the middle toe, are roun<led underneath]. Such are 



The Elanets {Elanus, Savigny). 



The Black-winged Elanet (F. melanopterux, Daud.) ; a common species from Kgypt to the Cape, and which 

 appears to be found in India, and even in America. [Tlie American and New Holland species are distinct] 

 Insects are almost its sole prey. 



TUe SwaUow-tailed Glede (F.furcatus, Lin.).— Larger than the preceding, [with wings excessively long, and tail 



