OF NEW ENGLAND. 345 
§27. The Falconide are the typical Raptores, charac- 
terizeil by not having the ear-tufts, forward-looking eyes, and 
concealed nostrils of the owls, or the naked head, elevated 
hind-toe, and slightly webbed front-toes of our vultures (Ca- 
thartide, §28). ‘The eyes, as a rule (but not always), are 
sunken beneath a projecting superciliary shelf, conferring a 
decided and threatening gaze.” The tarsus is either naked or 
feathered, but the feathers above it are long and flowing (with 
certain exceptions, as in the fish-hawks). 
The hawks and eagles are essentially diurnal birds of prey, 
not usually feeding on carrion. Some nest on cliffs, some on 
the ground, and others in the hollows of trees; but most of 
them build nests in trees, chiefly of sticks. The eggs of each 
set are from two to six, and are laid early in the season. They 
are rarely subspherical like owls’ eggs, but are for the most 
part whitish, and generally blotched. 
In this family there are several distinct groups. 
The harriers (Genus I). Face with a slight ruff, forming an 
imperfect disk (such as belongs to the owls). Flight usually 
low, somewhat irregular, but not rapid. Nest built on the 
ground. Our species is characterized by the white upper tail- 
coverts. 
The falcons (II). Upper mandible with a distinct pointed 
tooth behind the notch.4 Highly raptorial birds of medium 
size. Flight in some respects inferior to that of 
The true hawks (III, 1V). ‘farsi not scutellate behind, or 
feathered to the toes, which are always webbed at the base. 
Birds of comparatively slender form, with a rapid, protracted 
flight, occasionally interrupted by straight sailing, even at 
short intervals. They capture smaller birds with rapidity and 
energy. ‘ . 
The buzzards, including the eagles (V, VI, VII, VIII). 
Without the characteristics of the other groups. (In VI, VII, 
tarsus feathered to the toes.) Heavy and robust birds, with a 
4The birds of this genus have been distributed into several subgencra not 
here presented. See Pl. 1, fig. 27. 
