ACCIPITRES. 169 



The Mabsh-eagi.es {Circiietus, VieiUot) — 

 Hold a sort of mediate station between the Ernes, the Ospreys, and tlie Buzzards. They have the 

 wings of the Eagles and Iluzzards, and the reticulated tarsi of the Ospreys. Such are 



The European IMarsh-eagle, or Jcan-le-blanc, {F. gatlicus, Gm.), — the beak of which curves more rapidly than 

 in other Eagles, and the toes are proportionally shorter. It e.vceeds the Osprey in size, and inhabits Europe, 

 preyin;^ clileflyon reptiles. 



i>e iJa/e/e;»- of Le Vaillant, (F. ^ra«(i(7///*, Shaw). — An African species, remarkable for the extreme shortness 

 of its tail, and its beautifully varief^ated plumajje. [It constitutes the division llelotai-tms of Smith, synonymous 

 with Terafhopias of Lesson, differing in several particulars from the others, and particularly in the baldness of 

 its cheeks. The Bateleur preys on young Gazelles, young Ostriches, &c., and also on putrid carrion, disgorgnig 

 the latter into the throats of its young, as observed of the Vultures.] 



America produces Eagles with long wings like the foregoing, and naked scutellated tarsi, in wdiich 

 a more or less considerable proportion of the sides of the head, and sometimes of the throat, is 

 denuded of feathers. The general name of 



Caracaras — 

 lias been applied to them. From this group M. VieiUot has made his genera Daptrius, Ibycter, 

 and Poli/borus, [partly] according to the greater or less extent of the bare part of the head. 

 [P/iako//auus, d'Orbigny, Gynmojys and Milvacjo, Spix, have also been applied to divisions of the 

 Caracaras. These Birds are carrion-feeders, and pass their time chiefly on the ground, amongst the 

 herbage, where their gait is ambulatory. All are from the w arm regions of America.] 



The Cobonards, or short-winged Fisher-eagles, {Harpyia*, Cuv. ; \_Thraiaetos, G. Gray] ) — 

 Are also American Eagles, which have the tarsi very thick and strong, reticulated, and half-covered 

 with feathers, as in the Eriies, from which they differ chiefly in the shortness of their wings ; tlieir 

 beak and talons are stronger than in any other tribe. 



The Harpy Coronard or Eagle (i*. hmpijia, and F. crisiaius, Lin.). — Of all Birds, this possesses the most terrific 

 beak and talons ; it is superior in size to the common Eagle. On the back of its head are elongated feathers, 

 forming a sort of fan-like crest upon the nape, which, when erected, impart to its physiognomy a resendjiance to 

 the tufted Owls : like them, also, its external toe is frequently directed backward. It is said to be so strong, as to 

 have sometimes cleft a ManN ^kuU with a blow of its beak. The Sloths are its ordinary food, and it not unfre- 

 quently carries olT Fawns. 



The Eagle-hawks; {Morphnus, Cuv.) — 



Have, like the preceding, wings shorter than the tail ; but their elevated and slender tarsi, and their 

 feeble toes, oblige us to distinguish them. Some have the tarsi naked and scutellated. 



The Crested Eagle-hawk of Guiana (F. (7»;rtnen«(V, Daud,), resembles singularly, in its colom-s and markings, 

 the Harpy Coronard of the same country ; but is not so large, and its naked and scutellated tarsi sufficiently 

 distinguish it. 



F. itnthitvi'ia, Lin., is crestless. Tins handsome species hunts in inundated grounds. [Certain other uncrested 

 species, with very long tarsi, constitute the Limmietos, Vigors. 



Others have elevated tarsi, feathered throughout their length [the Spiziictus of VieiUot]. 



The Tufted Black Eagle-hawk of .Africa (F. occipitalis, Daud.),— inhabits the whole of that continent. 



The Variegatecl Eagle-hawk {F. ornnfus, Daud.; F. sirperbtis and coronatus, Shaw: llarptjia biaccafa, Spix, 

 refers to the young). — A handsome species from South America, which varies from black and white to deep brown. 

 [Certain Indian species compose the Nisaelos of Hodgson.] 



Finally, there are in America some Birds vnith beaks as in all the preceding ; very short, reticulated 



tarsi half-feathered in front ; wings shorter than the tail ; but tlie most distinctive character 



of which consists in their nostrils, wdiich are almost closed, and resemble a fissure. A small tribe mav 



be made of them, designated 



The Cymindues {Ci/mindis, Cuv.). 



Sach is 



The small Cayenne Hawk of Boflfon (F. cayenmensis, Gm.) ; which has another peculiar character, by possessing 

 a small tooth at the bend of its beak. 



[F. hamatus, Illiger, ranged by the author in Cyiniiulis, composes the Rijstr?iniinis of Lesson : its beak in very 

 narrow, the upper mandible resembling a long and slender claw : tail slightly furcate. 



• Tliia term waa previously applied to a suby;eiius of ClieiToptcra. — En. 



