174 CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



Falcons. — Most of these forms pursue living prey, while both 

 head and neck are as well provided with featheis as the other 

 parts of the body. 



As a type of the true falcons, the Peregrine Falcon (Falco 

 peregrinus) may be taken, and this form is of particular interest 

 on account of its former use in hawking. The head and upper 

 side of the body are dark, and the under side light with black 

 barrings (fig. 1 1 9). The short beak is notched at the sides, and 

 the legs and cere are yellow. It ranges through Europe and 

 away to Japan in the east and North-east Africa in the south. 



The Kestrel or Windhover {Falco tinnunculus) is a familiar 

 species closely related to the preceding, but much smaller. Its 

 range is similar. 



The remaining British Falcons are: — Merlin {Falco asaloti); Hobby {F. sub- 

 buteo); Red-footed Falcon [F. vespertinus). 



Another group closely related to the true falcons is that of 

 eagle-like birds, including not only eagles, but also kites, buzzards, 

 hawks, and harriers. The eagle par excellence is the Golden 

 Eagle {Aquila chrysaetus), of which the eyries are still to be 

 found in the Highlands and along the west and north of Scot- 

 land, while a few are to be seen on the west coast of Ireland. 

 Its geographical range is very considerable, including Europe, 

 North Asia, North Africa, and the greater part of North America. 

 We have also the White-tailed Eagle {Haliaetus albicilla). The 

 Crowned Harpy {Harpy haliaetus coronatus) is a crested eagle, 

 widely distributed in South America. 



A familiar example of the smaller eagle-like birds is the 

 rapacious Sparrow- Hawk {Accipiter nisus), which is common in 

 the well-wooded parts of Britain. Long-legged and slender in 

 its proportions (fig. 1 20), this bird is otherwise not unlike a falcon 

 as regards the character and markings of the plumage, but is 

 distinguished by shorter wings, more gently curving beak devoid 

 of notches at the side, and a peculiarly dashing flight. The 

 female Sparrow- Hawk destroys more game than any other native 

 bird of prey. As to range, this form extends throughout Europe, 

 North Asia, and North Africa, while allied species are found in 

 most parts of the globe. 



The other eagle-like birds of Britain are: — Common Buzzard {Buteo vulgaris); 

 Rough-legged Buzzard {B. lagopus); Marsh Harrier {Circus csruginosus); Montagu's 



