90 MANUAL 



fully reticulate, tarsus feathered, middle toe noticeably longer 

 than any of the others, claws all stout, tough, and are sharp, 

 typical talons ; wings long, strong, pointed, and very power- 

 ful, well fitted for an arrow-like, cutting flight, first four quills 

 long and often einarginate on the inner webs ; tail short, fan- 

 like, and rather powerful and strong. The whole bird gives 

 one the general idea of its being the embodiment of concen- 

 trated power, and it is fierce and relentless in its pursuit of its 

 prey. There is properly but a single 



Genus, Falco. 



Sub-genera, Hierofalco, The Gryfalcons (5 species). 



[Falco, The Falcons proper (3 species)]. 



JEsalon, The Merlins (4 species). 



Tinnunculus, The Sparrow Hawks (5 species). 

 [T. fusci-ccerulescens is frequently called Rhyncliofalco fusci-ccerulescens.'] 

 These sub-genera are often given the raiid^of genera. 



Sub-family e POLYBORINiE Caracara Eagles 



The genus Polyborus, for which this sub-family has been 

 framed, is a curious mixture of the Vulture and the Eagle, 

 and through the latter of the " Buzzard Hawks " ; anatomi- 

 cally, also, it is related to the Falcons proper. AVe do well, 

 therefore, to give it a decided individual character. In Pro- 

 fessor Baird's Report he has classed them as following the 

 Fish Hawk (genus Pandion) which follows the Bald Eagle 

 (genus Haliaius) ; both of these, with Polyborus, are classed 

 under the sub-family containing the Eagles. In describing 

 Polyborus, he says : " Smaller than in either of the preceding 

 genera of Eagles. (Pandion and Halketus.) Bill rather 

 long, compressed ; cere large ; wings long, pointed ; tail mod- 

 erate or rather long ; tarsi long, rather slender ; claws long, 

 rather weak, and but slightly curved ; space in front of and 

 the eye naked." These birds are evidently restricted to 

 Southern North America, and may differ somewhat from the 

 common South American species. 



Genus, Polyborus (2 species). 



