SPIZvETUS CRISTATELLUS. 



livery of the adult. By Temminck this and two other species belonging 

 to the same group (Falco iimnceetus Horsf. and F. niveus, Temm .) have 

 been placed in that section of the old genus Falco of authors, which he de- 

 nominates Autours or Hawks, the type of which is the Falco now Astar 

 palnmbarius (Goshawk). But, by Cuvier and Vieillot, these and some 

 other species have been separated from the true Goshawks under the title 

 of Eagle Hawks, forming the genus Morphnus of the first distinguished 

 naturalist, Spizcetus of the latter. Under these respective generic appel- 

 lations, however, two modifications of form are apparent, and easily recog- 

 nised. We have therefore retained, under the latter title, those species of 

 which Sp. cristatellus may be considered the type, and which have the bill 

 weaker and more immediately bending from the base, with feathered tarsi ; 

 leaving the generic appellation of Morphnus to such as possess a stronger 

 bill, nearly straight at the base, the tarsi long and naked, of which M. Uru- 

 bitinga may be taken as a type. With the habits and peculiar economy 

 of this bird we are unacquainted, but, judging from the form of its feet, 

 its long, hooked and sharp talons, and conpact form, we should consider it 

 as possessed of considerable predatorial powers. It is a native of the 

 warmer climates of Asia, and is found in Ceylon and other parts of the 

 East Indies, but from its rarity in collections, does not appear to be a nu- 

 merous species. 



The bill is black, the cere of a yellowish-green colour, the naked space 

 between the bill and eyes greenish-black. The forehead, throat, sides of 

 neck, and whole of the under parts, pure white ; the legs are long, the 

 tarsi thickly clothed with white feathers ; the crown of the head and nape 

 yellowish-brown, mixed with umber-brown ; from the occiput spring six 

 or eight elongated dark brown feathers, forming a pendent crest ; the 

 whole of the upper parts of the body are of a dark umber-brown, each fea- 

 ther with a paler margin ; the ridge of the wings is white ; the tail is long, 

 of a deep clove-brown colour, with seven narrow black bars, the tip white ; 

 the feet are yellow, the toes reticulated as far as the last phalange, and 

 armed with powerful sharp and crooked claws, particularly those of the 

 interior and hind toes. Length about twenty inches ; the wings when 

 closed appear to reach about one-half the length of the tail ; the first 

 quill is narrow and short, the fourth and fifth the longest in the wing. 



