AVES. 3.8 
high trees, and it is when rearing their young that they are most destructive. 
They are destroyed without mercy by our agricultural population, and are be- 
coming rare, as resident birds, in the more densely populated districts ; but 
when the rigors of winter urge them to more excursive habits they are fre- 
quently met with. A smaller species is also occasionally seen in all the 
Northern States; it is the broad-winged hawk of Wilson (B. pennsylvanicus). 
It is a handsome plumaged and rather graceful bird, and comparatively harm- 
less in its habits. 
Of the European species the common buzzard, B. vulgaris (pl. 104, fig. 8), 
is the best known. Im disposition and general history it is much like the 
common species of America. It is frequently met with in England and Scot- 
land, and is disseminated over the whole continent; it has been observed to 
prey upon almost every description of sinall animals. 
The genus Archibuteo comprises several fine species which have the legs 
completely feathered to the toes, and which are restricted to Europe and North 
America. Here is classed the black hawk of Wilson (A. sancti-johannis, Gm., 
A. niger, Wils.), a common species, though rarely seen in mature plumage, 
which is perfectly black ; also another western species (A. ferrugineus, Licht.) 
which has recently Snes known. 
Closely allied to the American black hawk, and resembling it in a remark- 
able degree when in young plumage, is the rough-legged buzzard of Europe 
(A. lagopus), a well known species disseminated over the entire continent, but 
appearing only occasionally in the south of England. Its history is little 
known. 
Several of the South American species of this sub-family are remarkable 
for a beautiful white and black plumage, such as Buteo melanops and B. 
pecuonotus ; and one Mexican species is almost perfectly pure white, though 
the name is not so attractive, being Buteo ghiesbreghiii. 
The African and Asiatic species are not numerous. Of the former may be 
mentioned several first made known by the celebrated Le Vaillant, such as 
‘Circetus thoracicus and Buteo bacha ; and of the latter, Buteo plumipes 
and others. 
Sub-fam. 3. Aquiline, or the Eagles. Bill moderate, rather lengthened 
and large, compressed, margins more or less festooned ; nostrils large; wings 
long and generally pointed; tail long, ample, and usually rounded at the tip ; 
tarsi and feet very strong, the former more or less feathered, the latter and 
generally part of the former covered with very distinct scales; claws very 
strong, much curved and acute, that of the inner toe strongest. Size large, 
flight generally very rapid and vigorous. 
The eagles are distributed over the entire surface of the globe, and the 
typical species, the golden cagle, Aquila chrysaétos, Linn. (pl. 105, fig. 1), is 
common to the northern parts of both continents ; which is also the case with 
the typical fishing eagle, better known in the United States as the bald 
eagle, Haliaétus leucocephalus, though it is rarely met with in the old 
world. 
The eagles have been celebrated since the earliest times for their 
extraordinary vigor of flight, their large and graceful figure, and, we may 
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