172 



AVES. 



r,g. rr- 



There are only three siiecies in France, \Yhich have been multiplied by the nomenclators on account of the varia- 

 tions of their plumage. [The Common, Montagu, and Marsh 

 jy Harriers are alluded to ; besides which the C.pallidus, an abun- 



dant Asiatic species, has recently been met with in the east of 

 Europe. There are numerous others.] 



Finally, 



The Secretary {Gyjmgeranus, lllig.), — ' 

 Is an African bird of prey, the tarsi of wliich are at least 

 double the length of those of the preceding, which has 

 induced some naturalists to range it among the Waders ; 

 but its thighs, entirely covered with feathers, its hooked 

 beak, projecting eyelids, and all the details of its ana- 

 tomy, concur to place it in the present order. Its tarsi 



are scutellated, the toes proportionally short, and the circumference of the eyes naked; it has 



a long rigid crest on the occiput, and the two middle feathers 



of its tail extend far beyond the others. An inhabitant of the 



arid and covertless plains in the neighbourhood of the Cape, it 



pursues reptiles on foot, whence its claws become much worn. 



Its principal strength is in the foot. It is the 

 Falco serpeniarius, Gm.— An attempt has been made to multiply the 



breed in Martinique, where it might render the most important service 



by destroying the lance-headed Vipers which infest that island. [This 



bird, two if not three species of which are recognized, resembles the 



Vultures in having fifteen cervical vertebrae. It oilers no molestation to 



poultry or other warm-blooded animals.] 



Although a vast number of generic and subgeneric names have 

 been appUed, the Diurnal Birds of Prey may be reduced to 

 comparatively few natural divisions. After detaching the Vul- 

 tures and the Secretary, the genera Pandion and Herpethotheres 

 may be signalized as forming a particular sul)division apart from 

 all the rest. The whole of the remainder then form an equiva- 

 lent natural group, the members of which scarcely differ anato- 

 mically. The most distinct subdivision is that of the Coronards, 

 which alone differ in the number of pelvic vertebrae, and in 

 having the outer toe reversible, as in the Ospreys and Owls. The 

 rest are httle else than adaptive modifications of one another, 

 according in all their rudimental characters. M^e may commence 

 with the Falcon group, foUowed by that of the Hawks (or the '''«• 'S-S'""""' "f secretary, 



subdivisions DcEdalion, Asturina, Astur, Accipiter, and Gymnogenys) ; the Harriers naturally succeed, 

 which lead by C. (Eruginosus to the Ernes, and then to the Kites {Milvus, as restricted) ; probably the 

 Buzzards and Eagles, which are but arbitrarily separable, should next range, merging into the Eagle- 

 hawks ; or perhaps the Perns, followed by the Elanet group (including Ictinia). We are less satisfied of 

 the affinities of the Caracaras, of the Cymindues, and of the Marsh-eagles and Haeniatorns, which last 

 group seems to approximate that of the Hawks.] 



The Nocturnal Birds of Prey 

 Have the head large; very great eyes, directed forwards, and siuTounded by a circle of 

 fringed feathers, the anterior of which cover the cere of the beak, and the posterior the orifice of 

 the ear. Their enormous pupils permit so much light to enter, that they are dazzled in full day. 

 Their skull, inflated, but of a slight substance, contains large cavities that communicate with the 

 ears, and probably assist the sense of hearing ; but their apparatus for flight is feeble, the furcula 

 off'ering but slight resistance : their feathers, with soft barbs, and delicately downy, make no 

 noise in flying. The external toe can be voluntarily directed forward or behind. These Birds fly 



