FALCONID^. 



9 



FAMILY IIL— FALCONIDtE. 



C^lj^ut pliimosum ; rostrum forte, adu7icuyn,basi cerigerum ; nares 

 lateralesy in ceromate positce, plus minusve rotundata, apertcc ; 

 digiti externi prcecipue mediis connexi ; ungues validi, acidic;' 

 simiy maxime incurvi, retractiles. 



The Falconidae have the head clothed with feathers * ; the beak 

 strong, bent down, and furnished with a cere ; the nostrils 

 lateral, placed in the cere, more or less rounded, and open ; the 

 outer toes chiefly connected with the middle one ; the claivs 

 stout, very acute, much incurved, and retractile. 



I HAVE followed the arrangement of this family 

 proposed by Mr. Vigors, in the Zoological Journal, 

 vol. i. p. 336, &c., as being a good exemplification of 

 the natural system of the affinities of birds, according 

 to the beautiful theory which I have endeavoured to 

 illustrate. 



Unlike the Vulturidas, these birds delight in killing 

 their own prey, which they devour fresh ; those of 

 the second and third stirps seizing it while in the air 

 (thence called ?iobIe) ; and those of the first, fourth, 

 and fifth stirps pouncing upon it on the ground, and 

 called ignoble by the falconers. They inhabit almost 

 every climate. 



STIRPS I.^AQUILINA (EAGLES). 



Rostrum longum ad apicem solum aduncum. / remex quarta prcB- 



cipue longissima. 

 Beak long, hooked at the tip only ; the fourth quill usually 



longest. 



A. Al(E longcB. A. Wings long. 



* Excepting the adult birds of the three first genera, in which 

 it is partly naked. 



