234 PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 



between the ti;ue vultures and eagles, and may be placed 

 among either, with nearly equal propriety. With the lat- 

 ter, however, it is, perhaps, more intimately comiected. 



Margin of the orbit of the eye above protuberant, mak- 

 ing the eye itself to appear as if sunk in the head. 



(A.) The second feather in the wing the longest: the first, 

 however, nearly equal. The bill is arched from the base. 

 The birds of this division are termed Noble, and are reck- 

 oned, w ithout very good reason, more docile than those of 

 the following group 



Claws flat, or grooved below. 



31. Falco. Falcon. Beak with a sharp notch near the 

 end. F. communis, 



32. HiEROFALCo. Gerfalcon. Notch on the bill blunt. 

 jFalco candicans and lugopus. 



Claws rounded beneath. 



33. Pandion. Osprey. F. Halioetus. 



(B.) The fourth feather in the w'ing is the longest, and 

 the first is very short. 



Nostrils contracted. 



34. Cymindes. Tarsi short, half feathered, reticulated. 

 Nostrils nearly closed. F. cayennenis. 



Nostrils patent, 

 (a.) Head crested. 



Tarsi feathered. 



.55. Plumipeda. Wings shorter than the tail. Crest 

 occipital and pendent. Falco supcrbus. 



Tarsi naked. 



36. Serpentauius. The two middle feathers of the 

 tail produced. A naked circle round the eye. F. serpen- 

 farms. 



