G34 



COMPENDIUM OF GENERIC DISTINCTIONS. 



oblique. Wings Ions, third, fourth, ami fifth quills longest. Tarsi 

 short and strong, narrow scales in front, rest with small irregular 

 scales. Habitat — Old and Now World. 



Subfamily. Polyborinse.— Bill slightly hooked, and waved. 

 Wings long. Tarsi long, slender, and irregularly scaled. 



Genus. Ibycter. -Bill much compressed, slightly waved, nos- 

 trils large, rounded, in fore-part of cere. Sides of head and 

 thrn.it naked. Tail long, broad, and rounded. Wings, fourth 

 quill longest. Tarsi moderate, feathered below knee, scales large 

 in front, rest small. Toes, inner stronger aud shorter than outer. 

 Habitat — South America 



Oenus. Milvago. — Bill rather stout, nostrils with horny 

 tubercle in centre. Wings, third and fourth quills longest. Tail 

 long, broad, and rounded. Tarsi rather long, feathered below 

 knee. Toes, two exterior nearly equal. Habitat -Son hem 

 America and Antarctic Islands. 



Genus. Polyborus. — Bill short and much arched, slightly 

 waved near tip, a few hairs on cere, nostrils oblique and narrow . 

 Wings, third quill longest. Tail moderate. Tarsi long, scales on 

 front and behind, divided along their middle. Claws of inner and 

 hind toes largest. Habitat -South America. 



Sub-family. Buteoninse.— Bill short, broad at ba-e, much 

 curved, cere occupying more than half its length. Wings long. 

 Tarsi long, with broad transverse scales in frontaud behind. Toes 

 rather short. 



Genus. Buteo. — Bill, nostrils large and oval, hairy feathers 

 from base of bill to eye. Wings very long, third and fourth 

 quills longest. Tail moderate and even. Tarsi long, naked and 

 scaled. Toes, three front joined at base. Habitat— Most parts of 

 world. 



Genus. Am uiRi'TEO. — Tarsi feathered to base of toes. Habitat 

 — Many parts of world. 



Subfamily. Milvinae. — Bill short and weak, waved, nostrils at 

 base. Wilms long and pointed. Tarsi short and strong. Toes 

 broad aval well padded beneath. 



( Pernis. — Bill curved from base to lip, nostrils long, 



narrow, oblique Wings, third, fourth, and fifth quills longest. 

 Tail long, broad, and rounded. Tarsi, half feathered, rest netted. 

 Inner toe longest. Habitat — Eastern parts of Old World. 



G . Milvus. — Bill straight at base, then curved to tip, 

 margins rather straight; nostrils oval. Wings very long, third 

 and fourth quills longest. Tail long, rounded or forked. Tarsi 

 very short feathered, and scaled. Outer toe united at base to 

 middle Habitat— Old World. 



Gen • Elanus. — Bill broad at base, compressed towards tip. 

 Wings very long, second quill longest. Tail long and forked. 

 Outer toe much shorter than inner. Habitat — Most parts of 

 world. 



Genus. Elaxoides (or Nauclerus). — Wings very long, second 

 and third quills longest. Tail long and very deeply forked. Hind 

 toe long. Habitat— South America and Africa. 



Genus. CvitiNors. — Bill much compressed, keel gradually slop- 

 ing to tip ; nostrils narrow and oblique. Tail long ami rounded. 

 Tarsi short and strong, plumed and feathered. Inner toe longer 

 than outer. Habitat — Tropical America. 



Genus. Ictinia. Bill broad at base, keel arched to tip, upper 

 mandible deeply scooped near tip; nostrils rather rounded. 

 Wings very long, pointed, third aud fourth quills longest. Tail 

 short and slightly forked. Tarsi with transverse scales in front, 

 small scales behind. Inner toe longer than outer; claws sharp 

 and eompn sscd. Habitat — America. 



Subfamily. Falconinse. — Bill short and curved throughout, 

 toothed on tip ; cere long and rounded. Wings long and pointed 

 Tail long and rounded. 



Genus. Falco. — Bill strong and toothed at tip; cere short; 

 nostrils round, with central tubercle. Wings, second and third 

 quills longest, first and second notched near tip. Tarsi, feathers 

 hanging over knee, covered with small irregular scales Toes 

 long and powerful. Habitat — Throughout world. 



Genus. HTPOTKIORCHrs. — Tarsi long and slender, large hexag- 

 onal scales in front Rest like Falco. Habitat — Throughout 

 world. 



Genus, Ieracidea. — Wings moderate, second and third quills 

 longest. Tarsi as Uypotriorehis. Hiud toe rather short. Habi- 

 tat — Australia. 



Genus. Tinnuni i i.i . — Tarsi long, strong, with transverse 

 hexagonal scale-. Rest like Falco. Habitat — Most parts of 

 world. 



Genus. Harfagus. — Bill compressed, two teeth at tip. Wings 

 moderate, third, fourth, and fifth quills longest. Tail moderate 

 and rounded. Tarsi moderate, slender, transverse scales in front. 

 Two exterior toes unequal. Habitat— South America. 



Sub-family. Accipitrinae.— Bill short, much arched, and deeply 

 waved. Wings mostly long. Tail large. Tarsi long, large scales 

 in front. 



Genus. Astur. — Bill broad at base, generally compressed to 

 tip, festooned in middle ; nostrils large and oval, in cere. Wings 

 very long, third, fourth, and fifth quills longest. Tarsi rather 

 long, large scales in front and behind. Inner aud hiud toes equal. 

 Habitat— Throughout world. 



Genus. Aocipiter. — Bill very short, much compressed; nos- 

 trils in fore part of cere, partly hidden by hair-like feathers. 

 Wings moderate, fourth anil fifth quills longest, Habitat— Most . 

 parts of world. 



ffi mi.-.. Melierax. — Ore occupying marly half of bill. Wings 

 Ions, third, fourth, aud fifth quills longest, Tarsi long. Habitat 

 — Africa. 



Sub-family. Circinx. — Bill moderate, short, and curved. Tarsi 

 mostly long and slender, and toes short. 



Cuius. Serpentarius. Bill broad and elevated at base, sides 

 compressed at tip Wings long, blunt spur on shoulder; third, 

 fourth, and fifth quills longest. Ta I very long, wedge-shaped, 

 two middle feathers projecting. Tarsi very long, large scales in 

 front, Toes very short, all from toes joined at base, hind toe 

 extremely short and rather elevated, all covered above with 

 transverse scales. Round eyes the skin is naked. Habitat — 

 Africa. 



Genus. Circus. — Bill festooned on margins; nostrils large, 

 oval, and partly hidden by hairy feathers. Wings long, third 

 and fourth quills longest. Tail long and rounded. Tarsi long 

 and compressed, large scales on outer sides, small on inner. 

 Outer toe longer than inner; claws long and slender. Habitat — 

 Throughout world. 



Suli-order. ACCIPITRES NOCTURNI.— Eyes set more or less 

 in front of the head, and surrounded with a radiating circle, 

 more or less perfect, of stiff bair\ feathers. 



Family. STRIGIDJ^. -Bill small, much arched, sides com- 

 pressed, base hidden under hairy feathers, tip much hooked. Tail 

 broad. All plumage very downy. Tarsi feathered to iocs, which 

 are either feathered or haired ; claws lone' and sharp. 



Subfamily. Surninse. — Head small, no feather tufts; facial 

 disc imperfect over e; es 



Genus. ScRNlA. — Bill nearly bidden by plumes, nostrils en- 

 tirely concealed. Wines long and pointed, third quill longest. 

 Tail long and wedge-shaped. Tarsi short, plumed. Toes short. 

 plumed. Habitat Northern Europe and America. 



Genus. Nyctea. — Bill as Surnia. Wings rather long, third 

 quill longest. Tail short and rounded. Tarsi and toes short, 

 strong, and densely plumed, claws very Ions and curved. Habi- 

 tat — Arctic circle. 



Genus. Athene.— Bill much as preceding, Wings long and 

 rounded, third and fourth quills longest. Tarsi rather long, 

 plumed ; toes short and haired, claws long and sharp. Habitat- 

 Warm portions of both hemispheres. 



Sub-family. Buboninse. — Head large, flat at top, two feathery 

 tufts or " car- " on the tides ; facial disc imperfect above eyes. 



Genus. EPHIALTES. — Bill moderate, base broad ; nostrils round, 

 and placed in fore part of cere. Wings long, second, third, aud 

 fourth quills longest. Tail short. Tarsi rather long, plumed to 

 base of toes Toes long and scaled. Habitat — Most parts of the 

 world. 



Genus. Bubo.— Bill moderate. Wines rather Ions, second, 

 third, and fourth quills longest. Tail moderate, rounded. Tarsi 

 and toes shortish, thickly plumed. Hind toe short. Habitat — 

 Most parts of world 



