244 The Falcon-like Birds 



been placed in a genus by itself (Lophoaetus], and is a bird about twenty-five 

 inches long, glossy brown, almost black above, being lightest on the cheeks and 

 shoulders and darkest on the ends of the wings and tail, while the under parts 

 are almost black, ancj.the legs nearly pure white; it has a large, conspicuous 

 black crest of numerous long feathers. The only species (L. occipitalis] ranges 

 throughout the whole of Africa, but is perhaps most abundant in the eastern 

 districts, frequenting mountainous wooded areas and the open plains as well, 

 where it may be seen perched on some tree or bush watching for its prey, which 

 consists largely of small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs, and snakes, and when 

 hard pushed it will resort to carrion. The stomach of one killed in South Africa 

 was found to contain a full-grown rat, eleven small ones, and a mouse. Its 

 nesting habits are not well known, although it is said to build in trees and to lay 

 two eggs. 



The Harpy Eagles (Subfamily Thrasetince). Taking their name from the 

 mythological winged monsters which were sent by the gods to carry off offend- 

 ers, the Harpies are among the largest and most powerful birds of prey, and 

 many are the stories current of their prowess. They are comprised in five 

 genera and six species, being mostly natives of Central and South America, ' 

 with one extending into Mexico and possibly to the southern border of the 

 United States in Texas. The affinities and systematic position of the Harpies 

 have been more or less questioned, some associating them directly with the 

 Buzzards, with which they undoubtedly have a number of points in common, 

 but it seems best to regard them as entitled to full subfamily rank. Aside 

 from certain anatomical peculiarities they differ from the true Eagles in hav- 

 ing the posterior side of the metatarsus covered with large transverse plates, 

 thus agreeing with the Buzzards, from which, however, they are distinguished 

 by the presence of a well-defined crest. They have strong bills of moderate 

 length, rather short, rounded wings, and unusually long tails, the latter thought 

 to be of especial assistance in guiding them in their rapid flight among the forest 

 trees, where they often make their home and where they pursue their prey. 



The Harpy Eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia) is at once one of the most magnificent 

 and powerful of the birds of prey known, having a length of some forty inches 

 and a spread of wing of about seven feet, and its abundant power of flight and 

 voracious nature make it a terror among the birds and mammals where it dwells. 

 Its legs and feet are nearly twice as large and strong as those of any other bird of 

 prey. The prevailing color of the upper parts, including the chest, is black, more 

 or less mottled with gray, while the head and neck are gray, darker on the crest, 

 and the under parts pure white, with the thighs narrowly barred with black, and 

 the tail broadly barred with black and mottled with ashy. The young are ashy 

 gray and black above, with the head, neck, and lower parts white. This species 

 is found in tropical America, ranging south to Bolivia and Paraguay and north 

 to Mexico, rarely extending so far as the mouth of the Rio Grande, thus giving it 

 claim to be called a native of the United States. It frequents the dense forests, 

 where, according to Dr. Oswald, it makes its way with almost incredible swiftness, 

 and "can overtake the swiftest birds of the tropical woods, and in spite of its 



