358 Observations on the Raptor es of South America. 
of the male and female, than in those of Europe ; a disproportion 
sometimes so remarkable, that were they not seen paired, an obser- 
ver might be tempted to consider them distinct species. This dis- 
proportion is particularly notable in Nisus hemidaciylus, Temm. but 
in most of the other species, it is reduced almost to nothing, and in 
some instances entirely disappears. The falcons, properly so called, 
for example, and some buzzards, differ but very slightly in size. We 
have observed another modification of form in birds of prey, resulting 
from difference of age. We allude to the greater or less length of 
the tail in the young and the adult. It is well Jmown that among 
passerine birds and the Gallinacese, for example, the young are 
entirely destitute of an ornament which is so conspicuous in the 
adult male ; and reasoning from analogy, the tails of rapacious birds 
ought likewise to be much longer in the adult than in the young. 
Observation, however, has continually presented us with the con- 
trary appearance, which may be regarded as a character peculiar to 
birds of prey ; the fact being, that among them the tail of the young 
is always longer than in the adult, the only example of the kind oc- 
curring among birds. 
A single observation will complete all that we have to offer of 
these general notices. 
Buffon, not without some appearances to justify him, classed the 
Shrikes among birds of prey, because, although without many of the 
characters of the tribe, they partly resemble them in habits, since they 
eat flesh, and even sometimes kill small birds. Azara, on the other 
hand, thought he had a similar authority for placing the Toucans 
among birds of prey, because at one season of the year they seek 
for nests in order to devour the eggs and even young. With accu- 
rate views of these improper alliances, Cuvier detached the Shrikes 
and Toucans from the group of rapacious birds, as belonging to a dif- 
ferent series, and reduced it to the subjects which rightly compose 
it, and which will probably always continue to belong to it. In 
these circumstances, we cannot fail to express our surprise at 
seeing our skilful colleague, M. Lesson, place the Cariama or Sa- 
riama in this group, merely because it eats reptiles and particularly 
serpents. May we not object to this arrangement, that the stork, 
as well as the Sariama inhabits lofty places, and feeds on serpents, 
although no one has ever thought that it should therefore be placed 
among the birds of prey ? We have carefully studied the manners 
of the Sariama ; and, not to mention its long naked legs, the want of 
hooked talons, and a beak very unlike that of birds of prey, we can 
assert that it certainly belongs to the series of Grallatores, of which it 
possesses all the characters, and among which it was formerly placed. 
The detailed description which we shall give of this species in its 
