On the Affinities of the Falconidce. 315 



Sub/am. Buteonince. 



Mirvus. 



Peruis. 



Spyzaetus. 



Buteo. 



Circus. 

 Subfam. Falcomncc. 



Falco. 



Harpagus. 



Lophotes. 



Aviceda. 

 Subfam. Accipitrince. 



Jctinia. 



Accipiter. 



Astur. 



Haliaetus. 

 To enter into a minute examination of this arrange- 

 ment, in order to point out its fallacies, would occupy too 

 much space, and at the same time it would be superfluous. 

 There are however one or two points which it is necessary 

 for vis to notice. To the genus Aquila the following 

 characters are assigned, " wings lengthened, (the first quill 

 short, the fourth and fifth the longest. Temnk.) tarsus 

 plumed almost to the toes, head not crested. Inhabits 

 chiefly the old world." As examples, Mr. Swainson gives 

 the Aquila imperialis, chrysaetos, naevius, pennatus, albi- 

 cilla, and leucocephalus.* We have here species belonging 

 to two of the most marked genera among the Falconidae 

 blended into that of Aquila; viz, the Aquila properly so 

 called, and Haliaetus. Now the Falco albicilla and leuco- 

 cephalus have not one of the essential characters given to 

 his genus Aquila. We say essential, for nothing is more 

 absurd than to enumerate as a generic character, a head 

 not crested, seeing that it is to be met with in species 



* I write the specific terms as they are given in Mr. Swainson's 

 work ; which is necessary for me to notice, as Aquila navim, &c. must 

 strike the reader. 



2 T 



