CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. RAPTORES. 



83 



THE AMERICAN MARSH HAWK ATTACKING A FLOCK OF QDAILS. 



birds ; also on lioTise pigeons and ponltry. It lays six whitish eggs ; inhabits all Europe. The 

 Marsh Harrier, C. riifus^ or C. ceruginosus^ inhabits Europe and the North of Africa. Mon- 

 tagu's Buzzard, C. Montagui, is also a European species. The Ranivorous Falcon, C. raii- 

 ivnrus, is found in North Africa. Other species are Quoi's Buzzard, C. cinercus ; the Black 

 AND White Indian Falcon, C. melanoleucus ; the Long-legged Falcon, C. aculi ; the Black 

 Hen Harrier, C. ater ; the Ash-colored Falcon, C. cineresccns ; the Pale-chested Harrier, 

 C. Swainsonii ; Jardine's Hen Harrier, C. Jardinii ; the Salvador Falcon, C. macropterus ; 

 and the Allied Moor Buzzard, C. assimilis. 



The American Harrier, or Marsh Hawk, C. Iludsonius, resembles the C. cyaneus of Europe? 

 l)ut it is larger, and its colors are different. It is nineteen to twenty-one inches long ; is of a pale 

 gray color, beneath white, with small reddish spots. It is found in all North America. 



Germs HERPETOTHERES : Herpetothcres. — This term signifies re/)<<7e-c/iaser, and describes 

 the habits of the only species, in respect to food ; this is the Laughing Falcon of Guiana and the 

 neighboring country, H. cachinnans — the Macagua of Azara. It is brown and white above, 

 and ten inches in length. Its aspect is somewhat owlish. It lives in the borders of forests along 

 rivers and marshes, where it builds its nest of enormous dimensions. When it sees a man ap- 

 proaching its domains, it cries out ma-ca-gua, with a sort of laughing accent. 



Genus ASTUR : Astur. — This includes several species, distributed in various countries,, and 

 generally called Goshawks. They are distinguished by a slender form, the bill short, curved, 

 and festooned; wings moderate; tail long and broad. The Common Goshawk of Europe — Ati- 

 tour of the French ; Sparviere Terziiolo of the Italians ; Grosser Gepfeilter-Falck of the Germans 

 — yA. palurnbarius^ is twenty-three to twenty-four inches long, the males usually one-fourth less; 



Vol. II.— 5 



