144 Ceylon Ornithology. 



strong, with tarsi moderate, generally rounded and covered 

 with scales of different shapes; the toes three before and one 

 behind, all armed with strong claws, and their soles invariably 

 rough. 



The first Sub-Order 

 Accipetres Diurni, or Diurnal Birds of Prey, 



are distinguished from those that pursue their food in the 

 twilight or at night, by the lateral position of their eyes: the 

 base of the upper mandible covered for nearly half its length 

 with a prominent cere, in which the nostrils are placed: the 

 tarsi moderate, scaled, and rarely covered with plumes. 



F AM : FALCONIDiE. 

 SUB-FAM: AQUILINJE, or EAGLES. 



Genus. Aquila. Mcehr. 



Bill strong at the base, and with the apical portion of the 

 culmen much curved to the tip, which is greatly hooked and 

 acute: the sides much compressed, and the lateral margins 

 festooned; the nostrils placed at the cere, large, and rather 

 oblique. Wings lengthened and acute, with the fourth and 

 fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long and wedge-shaped, or 

 rounded at the end. Tarsi rather longer than the middle toe, 

 robust, and entirely clothed to the base of the toes with 

 feathers. Toes moderate, strong, lateral ones unequal, and all 

 armed with strong, curved, acute claws : the inner the strongest. 



Genus. Spizaetus. Vieill. 



Bill moderate, the culmen straight at the base, and much 

 arched to the tip, which is acute and compressed, and the 

 lateral margins festooned ; the nostrils large and rather rounded. 

 Wings moderate, reaching to half the length of the tail, with 

 the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long and 

 slightly rounded at the end. Tarsi slender, much longer than 

 the middle toe, and plumed to the base of the toes. Toes long, 

 strong, the inner one much longer than the outer, which is 



