1S2 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tliroiitfliout Central and Sontlicrn Cliiie. It was constantly mot with along 

 tlu) roads, and wliurever tlusre was a chance of obtaining a particle of ilesli 

 or offal. At the annual slau,t;litering of cattle they congregate by hundreds, 

 and remain without tlie corral, awaiting tiieir sliare of the rejected ]iarts. It 

 was so tame, from not being molested, that it could 1)e taken with the lasso, 

 Imt when tluis ciiptured, it tights desi)erately, and no amount of attention 

 or kindness can reconcile it to tlie loss of liberty. 



Tiirougliout Soutli America it is one of tlie most abundant species, its 

 geographical range extending even to Cajjc H<jrn. Mr. Darwin found tlie 

 J'o/i/bonis nowhere so common as on the gra.s.sy savannas of the La Plata, 

 and says that it is also found on the most desei't plains of Patagonia, even 

 to the rocky and barren shores of the I'acific. 



Gexus FANDION, S.wigny. 



Pandion, Savion. 1S09. (TyjH', Falco hnlUcliis, Linn.) 

 Tiiorchis, Lk.vcii, ISKi. (Sumk! typi-.) 

 lldlbitsiirdus, Flkmlno, 1828. (Same type.) 



Gkn. CiiAR. Bill iull:ito(V till! ccro (lopret^sfd liolow tho arohed culmen ; ond of bill 

 inui'h dovuloped, I'oiuiiiig a strong, pciKk'nt hook. Anterior oiltro of nostril touching edge 

 oC the (vro. Whole of tarsns and toes (except tei'ininal joint) covered with rough, .some- 

 what iinliricated. projecting .scales. Outer toe versatile; all t\w claws of eipial length. 

 In theirshapo, al.so, they are peculiar ; the}- contract in thit'kne.ss to tlieir lower side, where 

 they are much narrow(.'r than on top, as well as perfectly smooth and rounded; the middle 

 claw has the usual .sharp lateral ridge, bu' it is not very distinct. .\11 the toes jierfoctly 

 free. Tiliiie not plumed, Ijut covered comimctly with short feathers, tliesc rea(.'hiiig down 

 the front of tho tarsus Inflow the knee, and Ici'iniuating in an angle. Primary coverts 

 hard, still', and acuminate, almost as much so as the quills themselves; third quill longest; 

 (irst longer than fifth ; second, tliird, and fourth sinuated on outer webs ; outer three 

 deeply emargiiiated, the fourth sinuated, on inner webs. 



Of this remarkable genus, there appears to Ite but a single species, which 

 is almost completely cosmopolitan in its habitat. As in the case of the 

 Peregrine Falcon and Bai'u Owl, different geographical regions have each a 

 l)ecidiar race, modified liy .some climatic or local influence. These races, 

 however, are not well marked, and are consequently only definable with 

 great dilliculty. 



Species and Races. 

 P. haliaetus. Wing, 15.20 - 21..50 ; tail, 7.00- 11.11 ; culmen, 1.20-1.40; 

 tarsiLs, 2.00-2.1,'); middle toe, 1.00-2.00. Second or third ciuills longest. 

 Above clear dark prayish-lirown, inclining to brownish-lilaek, jdain, or 

 variegated with white. Tail brown i.sh-gray (the innt'r webs almost entirely 

 while), narrowly tipped with white, and ero.ssed liy about six or seven 

 nearly eipial bauds of dusky-black. Head, neck, and entire lower parts, 

 snowy-white ; the breast with or without brown spots or wa.sh. A ihi.sky 

 stripe on side of head (from lores across the ear-covert.s). and top of head 

 more or less spotted, or streaked, with 'he same. Adult. T'pper part.s [ilain. 



