THE HARPY EAGLE. 



Harpyia Destrictor. Crv. 



This noble bird, the most magnificent of the Eagle 

 tribe, is distinguished from the other Eagles by the 

 shortness of its wings, the extreme robustness of its 

 legs, and the more than ordinary curvature of its beak 

 and talons. Its upper mandible is remarkably thick at 

 the base, from whence it is continued for some distance 

 in a straight line, but suddenly curves downwards with 

 a strong arch towards the point, which is extremely 

 sharp ; the lower mandible is straight, short, and ob- 

 tuse ; the nostrils are transverse and oval ; the u ings 

 do not reach when closed beyond the middle of the tail, 

 which is rounded at the extremity ; the legs are only 

 partially feathered on the upper part of their anterior 

 surface, the remaining portion being naked and reticu- 

 Biuns. s 



