OF ORNITHOLOGY 91 



Sub-family / BUTEONIN-ffi Buzzards or 

 Buzzard Hawks 



Some of our writers make a distinction between the Buz- 

 zards or Buzzard Hawks, (placing them in different sub-fam- 

 ilies,) and the Eagles, while others do not. While it is true 

 that there are certain forms in either group that grade toward 

 each other, the main body of each differ in so many particu- 

 lars that we shall regard them as separate sub-families and 

 treat them as we herewith do. 



The Buzzard Hawks are easily and naturally grouped to- 

 gether, though having peculiarities of several of the other 

 sub-families of the family. Their stout, robust, and heavy 

 form and appearance stands out prominent against the longer 

 and more slender form of nearly every rival. They differ 

 from the Falconing, in that the nostrils are not circular and 

 have no central tubercle ; from the Accipitein^e, in that the 

 tip of the wings is formed by the third or fourth or fifth quill 

 or any two or all of them, and that the tail is uniformly at 

 least one-third smaller than the wings (in Accipitrinje the 

 sixth quill enters into the tip of the wings and the tail is equal 

 in length to the wings), and the tarsus being short and stout 

 and usually more or less feathered ; from the Polyborin^, 

 by their general size and shape ; and from the Eagles by their 

 shape, size, and generally subdued figure and less fierce aspect, 

 and from the fact that the extremities — bill, legs, feet, and 

 claws, long-pointed wings and the tail — seem more in keep- 

 ing with the birds here enumerated than to be out of propor- 

 tion [long, sharp, slender, and pointed] with the body, as in 

 that group. An Eagle, however much it may resemble in 

 certain features the Buteonin^:, would never, at second 

 glance, be mistaken for one of them. There are few mem- 

 bers of the group that would not be immediately recognized 

 as belonging to this sub-family. 



Genera, Antenor, Harris's Hawk. 



Buteo, The " Buzzard or Hen Hawks," (14 species). 

 Archibuteo, The Rough-legged Hawks (2 species). 

 Asturiyia, The Mexican Goshawk. 



