KEEL-BREASTED BIRDS. 207 
form, ranging throughout temperate North America, and 
attains a length of three feet and stretch of wing of 
seven feet. The general color is brown, the neck, head, 
and tail white after the third year. They are arrant cow- 
ards, driven about by the small king-bird, and stealing 
the hard-earned plunder of the osprey. The nest is 
generally in a tall tree, composed of sticks, sods, etc., 
and added to year by year, often assuming great pro- 
portions. 
In South America the harpy eagle ( Zhrasatus harpyia) 
is most formidable and preys upon the sloth, while the 
sea, golden* (Fig. 300), imperial and African screaming 
eagles are other typical forms. 
The hawks are much smaller than the eagles, and, 
including the latter, fifty-three species are known in 
North America, The sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter fus- 
cus) is common all over North America. The female, 
contrary to the rule among birds, is larger than the 
male. 
The swallow-tailed kite (Zl/anoides forficatus) + is pe- 
culiarly an American bird. In their habits and flight they 
resemble the swallows, and also feed upon insects, wasps, 
and grasshoppers, and have been seen darting about in 
a swarm of bees, catching them in their claws and eat- 
ing them. The prairie falcon, sparrow hawk, osprey, gos- 
hawks, harriers, etc., are other familiar forms. 
* These birds are extremely powerful, and have been known to 
carry off large animals and children, and in one instance a golden 
eagle attacked a pig and was carrying it off when the owner rushed 
out. The eagle then dropped the pig, and attacked the man with 
such fury that only the timely assistance of several villagers saved his 
life. 
+ Prof. Moseley saw a kite of another genus (A/i/vus) at Cape 
Verd Islands that had the habits of a gull and flew about the ship, 
picking up with its feet bits of garbage, eating also on the wing. 
One of the birds was seized by a shark while it was fishing, and after 
a short struggle drawn under water. 
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