FALCONIDvE. 9 



FAMILY III.— FALCONIDrE. 



Caput plumosum ; rostrum forte, aduncum, basi cerigerum ; nares 

 laterales, in ceromate positce, plies minusve rotundatce, apertcc ; 

 digiti externi prcecipue mediis connexi ,• ungues validi, acatis- 

 simi, maxime incurvi, retractiles. 



The Falconidae have the head clothed with feathers * ; the beak 

 strong, bent down, and furnished with a cere ; the nostrils 

 lateral, placed in the cere, more or less rounded, and open ; the 

 outer toes chiefly connected with the middle one ; the claws 

 stout, very acute, much incurved, and retractile. 



I have followed the arrangement of this family 

 proposed by Mr. Vigors, in the Zoological Journal, 

 vol. i. p. 336, &c., as being a good exemplification of 

 the natural system of the affinities of birds, according 

 to the beautiful theory which I have endeavoured to 

 illustrate. 



Unlike the Vulturidae, these birds delight in killing 

 their own prey, which they devour fresh ; those of 

 the second and third stirps seizing it while in the air 

 (thence called noble') ; and those of the first, fourth, 

 and fifth stirps pouncing upon it on the ground, and 

 called ignoble by the falconers. They inhabit almost 

 every climate. 



STIRPS I.— AQUILINA (EAGLES). 



Rostrum I on gum ad apicem solum aduncum; remex qnarta prce- 

 cipue longissima. 



Beak long, hooked at the tip only ; the fourth quill usually 

 longest. 



A. Ala, longce. A. Wings long. 



* Excepting the adult birds of the three first genera, in which 

 it is partly naked. 



