42 COSHAWKS.— KITES.— BUZZARDS— HARRIERS. 



^ 50. The Genus of Goshawks, — j^stur, — comprises the Gos- 

 haicks properly so called, and the Sparrow-hawks ; they have 

 the tarsi scntellated, (that is, armed in front with large scaly 

 plates.) and are distinguished from each other by the length of 

 this part of the claw. Although cowardly, they may be employed 

 in falconry. 



51. The Sparrow-Hawks, — ]Sisvs, — have the tarsi higher than 

 the Goshawks : but the transitions from one division to the other 

 are almost insensible. 



.-^52. The Kites, — Milviis,— -have a forked tail and excessively 

 long wings, which makes their flight exceedingly rapid ; their 

 tarsi are short and their nails weak ; their beak {Plate 3. Jig. 8.) 

 is disproportioned to their size, and they are the most cowardly 

 birds of this whole tribe. The cnmmon kite of France, — Falco 

 milmis, — of all birds, sustains itself the longest and most tran- 

 quilly ; the elegance of its flight has been celebrated by poets. 

 It seldom attacks any thing but reptiles, 



53. The Buzzards, — Buieo, — have very long wings, but their 

 tail is equal, their feet are strong, and their beak is curved from 

 its base. The only species found in France is the Common 

 Buzzard, — Falco bnteo. This bird dwells throughout the year 

 in the forests, and appears stupid and idle : it often remains for 

 several hours together perched upon the same tree ; it does not 

 seize its prey upon the wing, but awaits on a hillock of earth, a 

 bush or a tree, from which it pounces upon its victim : it feeds 

 on young hares, partridges, young birds, and, when this game 

 fails, even on toads, serpents, grasshoppers, &c. The nest of the 

 Buzzard is built of small branches and lined inside with wool or 

 other soft substances ; these birds lay two or three eggs, which 

 are whitish, spotted yellow ; the mother takes care of her young 

 for a longer time than any other bird of prey, and it is stated, 

 that the male continues to feed them after its female has been 

 killed. 



54. The Harriers. — Circus, — differ from the Buzzards in their 

 more elevated tarsi, and by a sort of collar formed, on each side 

 of the neck, by the ends of the feathers that cover their ears. 

 There are three species in France, namely ; the Falco pygargus, 

 or bird of Saint Martin, which builds every where, and keeps 

 very much in the fields ; the Falco cineraceus, which has the 



50. What birds are comprised in the genus of Goshawks ? 



51. How are the Sparrowhawks dit>tinguished from the Goshawks? 



52. How are Kites characterised ? 



53. How are Buzzards distinguished ? What are their habits? 



54. How do Harriers differ from Buzzards ? 



