

Order I. ACCIPITRES. 



Family II. Falconidje. 



The third Subfamily, 



AQUILINE, or Eagles, 



have the Bill moderate, the culmen elevated and straight at the base, and then much arched to the tip, 

 which is hooked and acute ; the sides much compressed, and the lateral margins more or less festooned ; 

 the Nostrils placed in front of the cere, large, and generally oval; the Wings lengthened and acute, 

 with the third, fourth, and fifth quills usually the longest ; the Tail long, ample, and mostly rounded 

 at the end ; the Tarsi long, clothed with feathers to the base of the toes, or naked and covered with 

 variously formed scales ; the Toes long, strong, united at the base, especially the outer, and the lateral 

 toes unequal both in length and strength, the inner being the strongest ; the claws long, strong, much 

 curved and acute, that of the inner toe the strongest. 



Aquila Mcehr.* 



Bill strong, straight at the base, and with the apical portion of the culmen much curved to the tip, 

 which is- greatly hooked and acute; the sides much compressed, and the lateral margins festooned; the 

 nostrils placed in the cere, large, and rather oblique. Wings lengthened and acute, with the fourth and 

 fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long and wedge-shaped, or rounded at the end. Tarsi rather longer 

 than the middle toe, robust, and entirely clothed to the base of the toes with feathers. Toes moderate, 

 strong, lateral ones unequal, and all armed with strong, curved, acute claws ; the inner the strongest. 



These noble birds are scattered in most parts of the world, regardless of temperature, but preferring the mountainous 

 districts. They usually soar to a great height in the air, from whence they generally seek for prey, and it is from such 

 elevations that they pounce upon their victims. They are sometimes observed sailing along at no great height above 

 the woody valleys, ravines, and alpine declivities of the mountains, as well as the cultivated land. They may also 

 frequently be seen seated on a rock, patiently awaiting the approach of some quadruped or bird upon which they can 

 prey. Lizards, insects, and even carrion, at times form a portion of their food. Their flight is easy, and is usually 

 performed in high circuitous sweeps. The nest is composed of sticks, heath, &c, covering a large space of ground, and 

 is generally placed upon a projecting part of an inaccessible cliff, or on the summit of a large tree. The eggs are 

 generally two in number. 



1. A. chrysaetos (Linn.) Pall. PL enl. 410. — Falco fulvus Linn. 

 PI. enl. 409. ; F. niger Gmel. ; F. canadensis Linn. Wils. Amer. 

 Orn. pi. 55. f. 1. ; F. americanus Gmel.; F. melanaetus Linn. ; F. 

 melanonotus Lath. Brown's III. pi. 2.; F. albus Gmel.; Aquila nobilis 

 Pall. ; Aq. regia Less. ; F. cygneus Lath. 



2. A.heliaca Sav. Hist.de 1' Egypt, Ois. t. 12. — Falco im- 

 perialis Bechst. PL col. 151, 152., Gould's B. of Eur.pl. 5.; F. 

 Mogilnik Gmel. ; Aquila chrysaetos Leisl. 



3. ? A. bifasciata Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 17- 



4. A. ncevia (Gmel.) Mey. Hist, de l'Egypt, Ois. t. 1. et t. 2. f. 1. 



Falco maculatus Gmel. ; Aquila melanaetos Sav. ; Aq. clanga 



Pall. ; Aq. bifasciata Hornsch. 



5. A. fulvescens Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 29. — Aquila fusca et 

 Aq. punctata Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 27- 16. ; Aq. Vindhiana 

 Frankl. 



6. A. ncevioides (Cuv.) — Falco rapax Temm. PL col. 455. ; F. 

 Choka Smith ; F. obsoletus Licht. ? 



7. A. albicans (Rupp.) Faun. Abyss. 1. 13. 



* Established by Mcehring in 1752. It embraces Uroaetus, HieraaUus, Pteroaetus, of M. Kaup (1844), and Neopus of Mr. Hodgson 

 (1844). This latter is coequal with Onichaae'tos of M. Kaup, which was published in the same year. 



