140 FALCON. 



This is found at Guiana, and other parts of South America, and 

 is content to feed on hares, partridges, and smaller game ; has a rapid 

 flight, and generally seen in pairs, the two sexes together. It makes 

 the nest on trees, lined with wool and feathers, and lays two pale 

 eggs, spotted with red brown ; has a plaintive cry, uttered at 

 intei-vals. 



We have had doubts whether to place the Black Eagle of Bruce 

 with this, or tlie Vulturine Species, or whether to set it down as 

 distinct ; it resembles the last named in colour, but is smaller than 

 either, being only 2 ft. 4 in. long, and 4^ feet in breadth, weighing 

 scarcely five pounds. The feathers of the head elongated into a crest 

 of considerable length, which is said to be carried erect. In this 1>ird, 

 too, the cere is j^ellow, and reaches from the bill to the e^^es, 

 approaching to the Vulture, and forming a link between that and 

 the Eagle. It was met with in 1770, at Dinglebar, among a cloud 

 of Vultures and other birds of prey, following the army in Abyssinia, 

 and was stiuck down by one of these, by which it fell under Mr. 

 Bruce 's inspection. It seems, however, rather to coincide with the 

 Occipital species, having, like that, some white on the inner quills. 



Mr. Bruce's bird was likewise met with at Tsai, in Abj^ssinia, by 

 Mr. Salt, who observes, that the drawing is correct, but that in its 

 habits it more resembles an Hawk than an Eagle, for it perches on 

 the tops of trees, and on being driven from one flies to another.* 



* Valentia's Travels, iii. p. 72. 



