ACCIPITRES. 129 



to subdivide considerably. The fourth quill of their wings is almost always 

 the longest, and the first is very short, which produces the same effect as 

 if their wing were obhquely truncated at the tip, whence, cxteris pari- 

 bus, result diminished powers of flight; their beak also is not so well armed, 

 there being no lateral tooth near its point, but a mere slight emargination 

 about the middle of its length. 



AatJiLA, Briss. 



The Eagles which constitute the first tribe, have a very strong beak, 

 straight at base and only curved towai'ds the point. Among tliem we find 

 the largest species of the genus, and the most powerful of all the birds of 

 prey. 



The Eagles are now subdivided into Aquila proper (to which belongs our 

 Ring-tailed Eagle), the Haliaetus of Savigny or Fisher Eagles of Cuvier (the 

 Pj'gargus and our Bald Eagle), -Pflnc?j07{ (the Osprey), Circaetus, Harpyia 

 (where we find the " Great Harpy of America" that possesses such 

 strength of beak as to be able to cleave a man's skull), and Morphnus, differ- 

 ing In certain peculiai-ities of the tarsi, claws, and wings. 



AsTtTH, Bechst. 



The Goshawks, which form the second division of the Ignobles, like the 

 last three tribes of Eagles, have wings shorter than their tail; but their beak 

 is curved from its base, as in all those which are to follow. We pai-ticu- 

 larly designate as Goshawks those which have rather short and scutellated 

 tarsi. 



The name of Spakkowhawk, (Nisus, Cuv.) is generally appropriated to 

 those whose tarsi are higher and scutellated; but the transitions from one 

 division to the other are almost insensible. 



F. nisus, L. (The Common Span'owhawk.) Coloured like the Gos- 

 hawk, but its legs are longer, and it is a third less in size. It is employed 

 however by falconers. 



Mnvus, Bechstein. 



The Kites have short tarsi, and weak toes and nails, wliich, added to a 

 beak equally disproportioned to their size, render them the most cowardly 

 species of the whole genus; they are distinguished by their excessively long 

 wings, and their forked tail, wliich give them great powers of flight. 



F.furcatus, L,. (The Fork-tailed Kite.) Wliite; wings and tail black; 

 the two external quills of the latter veiy long; larger than the preceding. 

 It attacks reptiles. 



Pehnis, Cuv. 

 The Honey-Buzzards, with the weak beak of the Kites, have a very pecu- 

 liar character in the space between the eye and the beak, which. In all the 

 rest of the genus Falco, is naked, and simply furnished with a few hairs, 

 but in these is covered with a dense plumage, the feathers of which are cut 



R 



