1% 



ACCIPITRIN^. 



Geranospiza Kaup.* 



Bill moderate, gradually arched to the tip, which is much hooked and acute ; the sides compressed, and 

 the lateral margins festooned ; the nostrils placed anteriorly in the cere, and suboval. Wings lengthened ; 

 with the fourth and fifth quills the longest. Tail lengthened and rounded. Tarsi lengthened, nearly 

 twice the length of the middle toe, very slender, and covered in front with broad nearly obsolete scales. 

 Toes very short and thick ; with the outer toe very small and slender ; the claws moderate and curved. 



These species inhabit South America, where they frequent the inundated ground on the sides of the great rivers. 

 They are observed generally in pairs, perched on the palms or other large trees, waiting for their prey, which is supposed 

 to consist of aquatic reptiles and fish. Their flight is low, easy, and rather rapid, though they fly but a short distance 

 at a time. 



1. G. gracilis (Temm.) Kaup, PI. col. 91. — Falco hemidactylus 

 Temtn. PI. col. 3. ; F. Wiedii brasiliensis Griff. An. Kingd. i. pi. 

 p. 238. ? ; Sparvius csruleseens Vieill. Azara, No. 22. 



2. G. niger (Dubus), Bull. Acad. Roy. Belgiurr 

 1848. p. 241. 



net Rev. Zool. 



MlCRASTUR.f 



Bill short, elevated at the base, much arched to the tip, which is acute ; the base covered with a hairy 

 cere, and the lores and round the eyes naked. Wings short and rounded ; with the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth quills the longest, Tail long and much rounded. Tarsi lengthened, slender, and covered with 

 large reticulated scales. Toes long and slender ; the lateral ones unequal, and the hind toe shorter than 

 the inner ; the claws long, curved, and acute. 



The birds which compose this division are peculiar to South America. They prefer the neighbourhood of forests 

 near the banks of large rivers, where they are seen perched on the lower branches of trees, waiting the approach of their 

 prey, which consists of small birds and mammalia. They are active birds, flying with rapidity, though invariably close 

 to the ground. 



1. M. brachypterus (Temm.) G. R. Gray, PL col. 141. 1 1 6. — 

 Sparvius semitorquatus Vieill. ; Falco leucomelas ///. ; Sparvius 

 ruficollis et Sp. melanoleucus Vieill. Azara, No. 28, 29. 



2. M. xanthothorax (Temm.) PI. col. 92. — Falco leucauchen 

 Temm. PI. col. 306. 



3. M. concentricus (111.) Less. Tr. d'Orn p. 60. — Sparvius 

 gilvicollis Vieill. 



4. M. guerilla Cassin, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1848. p. 87. 



Accipiter Briss.X 



Bill very short, with the culmen much arched to the tip, which is acute ; the sides much compressed, 

 and the lateral margins festooned ; the nostrils placed anteriorly in the cere, large, and suboval, partly 



• Originally established by Mr. Strickland under the name of Ichnoscelis in 1 844, which word having been previously used, it was 

 changed by Dr. Kaup to the above name in 1847. 



f The above name was given (1841) by me in the place of Brachypterus of M. Lesson, which he proposed in 1837, and which he had 

 previously employed in the form of Brachypteryx ; while in 1844 M. Cabanis changed it to Climacocercus. Carnifer of M. Lesson (1842) 

 is coequal with his first name. 



% Established by Brisson (Ornithologie) in 1760. Between 1799 and 1800 Cuvier proposed Nisus ; in 1816 Dr. Leach used Ierax, 

 and Dr. Kaup Hieraspiza (1844) and Urospiea (1845), which are coequal. To this division belong Micronisus of me (1840), with 

 which Nisastur of Mr. Blyth (1844), Tachyspiza (1844) and Scelospiza (1847) of Dr. Kaup, are synonymous. 



