164. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVIII. 
The hawks belong to the ornithological Family of Falconide which includes 
the Caracaras, Long-legged hawks, Buzzards, Bearded Vultures, Eagles and 
Falcons. The falcons are characterized by the strong short bill, suddenly curved 
from the base, with a tooth like process on each side. Among them are the Ger 
or Jer falcon (Hierofalco), much the largest, the Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), 
the Indian variety of it, the ‘‘ Shahin ” (F. peregrinator), the Merlin (fF. esalon) 
and Hobby (F. buteo), also the red-headed Merlin (42. chiquera). — 
The short-winged hawks such as the Goshawk (Astur palumbarius), Sparrow 
hawk (Accipter nisus) belong to the Sub-family of Buteconine, short-winged 
and short-tailed generally. The Hen harriers (Circus) belong to this group. 
The foregoing paper was not originally written for publication, but for a 
young ornithologist. Itis drawn mainly from that delightful but too little 
known book ‘“‘ The Diary of William Silence” by Professor Madden. If this 
note leads to its being better known, bird and Shakespeare lovers will alike be 
grateful, and these few lines will have not leen made public in vain. All 
references are to the “‘ Oxford Shakespeare.” 
