On the Affinities of the Falconidce. 313 



fifth, the Buzzards ; and in the sixth, or last, the Harriers. 

 But as he in this arrangement only comprehends the birds 

 of Europe, we cannot with justice attempt to analyse it, all 

 we can state is, that it has the same objections as that of the 

 Baron Cuvier. In fact, it is just a mere modification of it, 

 the former adopting the plan of the ancients, viz. sections 

 instead of genera. 



Mr. Vigors in his admirable paper on the Falconidae, pub- 

 lished in'the Zoological Journal, has divided the Rapacious 

 Birds into a series of groups, which he has denominated the 

 typical and aberrant. In the former he arranges the Hawks 

 and Falcons, and in the latter, Buzzards, Kites, and Eagles. 

 As a general character for the typical species, he has, Ros- 

 tra brevia, precipue dentata, praeda aeria, terms which 

 though particularly applicable, will apply also to many 

 species among his aberrant group ; for in many we find the 

 bill very short and toothed, and at the same time in their 

 habits truly aerial. Moreover to his so-called Stirps accipi- 

 trinum, we have only a festoon ascribed, which however is 

 entirely wanting in many species belonging to the genus 

 Accipiter. Again, in a bird in the Edinburgh Royal Museum, 

 sent by Major Clunie from Moreton Bay, New South Wales, 

 having almost every character in common with the genus 

 Pernis or Honey Buzzard, (the particular arrangement of 

 small feathers in the loral region excepted) there is a dou- 

 ble tooth. In another species also in the same collection, 

 more nearly allied to the genus Buteo than to any other, 

 there is a powerful tooth. 



In his aberrant group we have as the characteristic 

 marks, Rostra longa, aut sublonga, haud dentata. Praeda 

 terrestris. The remarks made above are directly in opposi- 

 tion to these characters, and as the habits of not one-third 

 of the Falconidae are known, the character praeda terrestris 

 is premature. 



But Mr. Vigors, as also. Mr. Swainson, have pointed out, 



