12 FALCONID A. 
Aquila chrysacios, Eagle, Fem. Brit. An. p. 52. 
ee ‘ Golden Eagle, SE tBy, Brit. Ornith. vol. i p. 12. 
a ss fi = JENyNS, Man. Brit. Vert. p. 80. 
$ oy 5) os Gou xp, Birds of Europe, pt. vi. 
Falco fulcus, Aigle Royal, Tem. Man. d’Ornith. vol. i. p. 38. 
Aquita. Generic Characters.—Beak strong, of moderate length, curved from 
the cere, pointed, the cutting edges nearly straight. Nostrils oval, lateral, 
directed obliquely downward and backward. Wings large and long, the fourth 
quill-feather the longest. Legs strong ; tarsi feathered to the junction of the 
toes. Feet strong ; the last phalanx of each toe covered by three large scales ; 
claws strong, hooked. 
In the second edition of his Manual of the Birds of Eu- 
rope, published in 1820, M. Temminck, who is deservedly 
considered one of the best authorities in Ornithology, formed 
six divisions of the extensive genus Falco of Linneus, un- 
der names that are equivalent to the Eagles, Falcons, 
Hawks, Kites, Buzzards, and Harriers of English authors. 
It will be seen that these divisions and their distinctions as 
enumerated by M. Temminck are only other terms for the 
genera and generic characters of other naturalists. In 
accordance with some of the views of modern systematic 
writers in Ornithology, many of the new divisions or 
genera will be included in the present work. The cha- 
racters upon which these divisions are founded by their 
respective authors will be given; and by comparing these 
with the characters of the genus from which the particular 
species has been separated, the reader will be enabled to 
judge for himself of the propriety and value of the new 
distinctions. 
Of the Diurnal Birds of Prey, constituting the family of 
Falconide, the second in the order Raptores, the Eagles 
are by far the largest in size, and of great muscular power; 
and although they do not possess all the characteristics 
which distinguish the true Falcons, their flight is powerful, 
and their habits destructive. 
