and neck, and its white tail, This species occurs 
throughout the greater part of Europe and Asia, 
and is very destructive to lambs and other small 
animals. 
The Harpy Eagle (7hrasactus destructor) is the 
finest of the eagles which inhabit Central and South 
America. The body is very robust, the head large, 
and the legs thicker than in any other birds of | 
prey. The head and neck are grey, the back, the 
wings, the upper part of the breast, and the tail are 
black; the lower part of the breast is white. This 
bird is remarkable for continuing to moult throughout 
the whole year, The Harpy Eagle is a most formidable 
enemy to the Howling Monkeys, deer, and even 
children. It also feeds on sloths, and tears them 
away in fragments from the branches to which 
they cling. 
Fig. c. The Serpent Eeagle (Czrcaétus gallicus) 
A 

Southern and Central Europe, and is more mischievous 
than beneficial, for it destroys many useful little birds, 
The Buzzards (Luteo) on the other hand are 
to be regarded as useful birds, for they feed prin- 
cipally on field-mice, hamsters, &c., and will also 
eat insects. They frequent mountains and plains, but 
prefer small woods surrounded with fields. Their flight 
is slow, sailing, and long-sustained, and they dart down 
in a slanting direction when they perceive their prey. 
Their beak is small, weak, and not dentated, their 
legs and toes are short, and their claws of mode- 
rate size, 
Fig. b. The Common Buzzard (Luteo vulgaris) 
is a voracious bird, and destroys great numbers 
of mice and similar vermin, though it does not de- 
spise ahare, a partridge, on a singing bird occasion- 
ally. The prevailing colour is a paler or darker 
brownish grey, the breast is white, with long pale 
feeds chiefly on Amphibia, but will also eat snails | streaks, the cere and feet are yellow, and the claws, 
and worms. ‘The beak is 
clothed with a wax-like 
cere, the feet are blue, the 
back brown, the belly white, 
with light brown spots, and 
the tail marked with three 
dark transverse bands. It 
inhabits Southern Europe, 
Western Asia, and North 
Africa, 
The Kites (A/z/vis) are 
slender birds, of moderate 
size. Their beak is much 
curved towards the tip, and 
ends in a strong hook, The 
short toes are armed with 
claws which are only slightly 
curved and the wings are 
long and pointed, But their 
most remarkable character 
is the long forked tail. 
Fig.d. The Kite (A/2/- 
vus rufus) is of a prevail- 
ing rosty-red colour, the 
beak bluish, and the cere 
and feet yellow. It is found 
throughout Europe, as well 
as in Northern Asia and 
Africa, and is rendered con- 
spicuous by its deeply-forked 
tail, and by its sailing, 
though not rapid flight. In 
Ingland it is now very scarce. It feeds on small 
mammals, birds, snakes, toads, insects, &c., as well 
as on refuse of all kinds. 
(Plate III.) 
The Harriers (Czrcus) have long narrow wings, 
adapted for very rapid flight, and speed backwards 
and forwards in the evening twilight at a moderate 
elevation over level ground, and pounce upon mice 
and other small animals and birds, They build their 
nests on the ground. The beak is small, the legs 
have long slender shanks with rather short toes, 
and but slightly curved claws. 
Fig. a. One of the best known species is 
Montagu’s Harrier (Czrcus pygargus). The adult 
male is brownish grey on the head, neck and back; 
the belly and the upper tail-coverts are white. The 
adult female is similarly coloured, but the feathers 
are rather less varied with grey. This bird inhabits 


Harpy Eagle (Thrasaetus destructor) 

which are rather long and 
sharp, are black. It is found 
throughout the temperate 
parts of the Northern Hemi- 
sphere. 
In the Ospreys or Fish- 
hawks, the body is compara- 
tively small, but strongly 
made, the head is of mo- 
derate size, the wings broad 
and long, the beak strong, 
terminating in a long hook, 
and the large feet are armed 
with strong toes, which are 
rough and rasplike beneath, 
and are armed with very 
long and sharp claws. 
Fig. c) represents the 
Osprey (Fandion Haliaétus). 
The beak is black, the cere 
and feet are light blue, the 
crown of the head, and the 
undersurface of the body 
white, with scattered brown 
spots; and the back and the 
tail brown, the latter with 
six broad brown transverse 
stripes A broad brown stripe 
runs down from the eyes to 
the sides of the neck Mit 
roosts on high trees in the 
neighbourhood of rivers, and 
preys upon fish. It is common in many countries 
of both hemi- ol 
spheres, 
The Gos- 
hawks (Astur) 
may be known 
by their strong 
and distinctly 
toothed beak, 
whichis curved 
from the base, 
the compara- 
tively long legs 
with long toes 
and sharp Egg of Osprey, 
claws, and the short, but rather pointed wings. 


Fig. e. The Goshawk (Astur palumbarius) is 
a formidable enemy to poultry-yards. It is a bold 
marauder in woods and fields, and as it does not 
despise small birds, it creates a panic among them 

| 
| 
—_—a_ =... 
