■ ! 



Order I. ACCIPITRES. Family J I. FalcOHTMS. 



The second Subfamily, 



BUTEONINiE, or Buzzards, 



have the Bill short, broad -at the base, much curved on the cuhncn, with the lateral margins festooned; 

 the Cere covering more than the basal half of the bill ; the Wings long, with the third and fourth 

 quills generally the longest ; the Feet strong, with the Tarsi lengthened, naked, and covered both 

 in front and behind with broad transverse scales ; and the Toes, including the hind one, rather short. 



BUTEO C'llV.* 



Bill short, broad at the base, laterally compressed to the tip, with the cuhncn much curved from the 

 base, which is broad and rather flattened above, the lateral margins festooned; the nostrils large, 

 oval; and the lores clothed with hairy feathers. Winr/s very long, with the third and fourth quills 

 the longest, and the inner and outer webs of some of the quills obliquely notched. Tail moderate, and 

 even at its end. Tarsi lengthened, naked, covered with transverse scales before and behind, but at the 

 apex and on the sides with small scales. Toes* rather short, with the three anterior ones united at their 

 base; the hind toe equal in length with the inner, and both strong and. armed with a long powerful 

 curved claw ; the base of the toes covered with small scales, and the apex with broad transverse ones. 



These birds have a heavy and indolent appearance, and generally inhabit woods and forests, being found in most parts 

 of the world. Their flight, which is sometimes performed during twilight, is easy and buoyant ; and is generally taken 

 in extensive sweeps, over meadows and marshes, near the surface of the ground. Small birds, quadrupeds, and reptiles 

 form their food, which they either seize while flying, or strike upon the ground from the top of a tree or hillock from 

 whence they have been watching. They breed in woods, though sometimes on rocks and the sides of deep ravines, 

 forming their nests of sticks, lined with wool, hay, &c. ; and occasionally occupy the nests of other birds. The eggs are 

 two or three in number, of a greenish white, cither plain or spotted with reddish In-own. 



1. B. vulgaris Bechst. PI. enl. 419.— Falco Buteo Linn.; F. cauda Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. Sept. t. 6. ; B americamis Vieill.; F. ja- 

 Glaucopis Merr.; B. mutans et fasciatus Vieill; F. variegatus, | maicensis Cimcl. ; B. fulvus Vieill. ; Accipiter ruficaudus Vieill. 

 versicolor, cinereus, et obsoletus, Gmel. ; B. albus Daud.; B. mon- I Ois. d'Amer. Sept. t. 14. 



tana Nutt.; B. Swainsoni Pr. Bonap. Faun. Bor. Amer. pi. 9.1.; 3. B. pennsylvanieus (Wils.) Pi. Bona]). AVils. Amer. Orn. pi. 



B. communis Cuv. 54. f. 1 .— Falco latissimus Oral; Sparvius platypterus Vieill.; T. 



2. B. borealis (Gmel.) Swains. Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 52. f. 1. Wilsoni Pr. Bonap. 



—Falco Leverianus Will. Amer. Orn. pi. 52. f. 2.; F. ferrugineo- 4. B. lincatus (Gmel.) Jard. Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 5.S. f. 2.— 



* This division was established by Cuvier (Anatomie Compare,-) in 1709 or 1800, and it embraces Mr. Gould's genus Cnn-iir.i: 



