358 Observations on the Raptores of South America. 



of the male and female, than in those of Europe ; a disproportion 

 sometimes so remarkable, that were they not seen paired, an obser- 

 ver might be tempted to consider them distinct species. This dis- 

 proportion is particularly notable in Nisus hemidactylus , Temm. but 

 in most of the other species, it is reduced almost to nothing, and in 

 some instances entirely disappears. The falcons, properly so called, 

 for example, and some buzzards, differ but very slightly in size. We 

 have observed another modification of form in birds of prey, resulting 

 from difference of age. We allude to the greater or less length of 

 the tail in the young and the adult. It is well known that among 

 passerine birds and the Gallinaceee, for example, the young are 

 entirely destitute of an ornament which is so conspicuous in the 

 adult male ; and reasoning from analogy, the tails of rapacious birds 

 ought likewise to be much longer in the adult than in the young. 

 Observation, however, has continually presented us with the con- 

 trary appearance, which may be regarded as a character peculiar to 

 birds of prey ; the fact being, that among them the tail of the young 

 is always longer than in the adult, the only example of the kind oc- 

 curring among birds. 



A single observation will complete all that we have to offer of 

 these general notices. 



Buffon, not without some appearances to justify him, classed the 

 Shrikes among birds of prey, because, although without many of the 

 characters of the tribe, they partly resemble them in habits, since they 

 eat flesh, and even sometimes kill small birds. Azara, on the other 

 hand, thought he had a similar authority for placing the Toucans 

 among birds of prey, because at one season of the year they seek 

 for nests in order to devour the eggs and even young. With accu- 

 rate views of these improper alliances, Cuvier detached the Shrikes 

 and Toucans from the group of rapacious birds, as belonging to a dif- 

 ferent series, and reduced it to the subjects which rightly compose 

 it, and which will probably always continue to belong to it. In 

 these circumstances, we cannot fail to express our surprise at 

 seeing our skilful colleague, M. Lesson, place the Cariama or Sa- 

 riama in this group, merely because it eats reptiles and particularly 

 serpents. May we not object to this arrangement, that the stork, 

 as well as the Sariama inhabits lofty places, and feeds on serpents, 

 although no one has ever thought that it should therefore be placed 

 among the birds of prey ? We have carefully studied the manners 

 of the Sariama ; and, not to mention its long naked legs, the want of 

 hooked talons, and a beak very unlike that of birds of prey, we can 

 assert that it certainly belongs to the series of Grail atores, of which it 

 possesses all the characters, and among which it was formerly placed. 

 The detailed description which we shall give of this species in its 



