cooper’s hawk. 
7 
An extensive reform is evidently needed in the 
department of classification that relates to genera, and 
"' e propose, with this view, to undertake at some future 
Period a general work, when, erecting our system on a 
*uore philosophical basis, though we may restrict some, 
at id enlarge other genera, we shall, in the instances to 
which we have alluded, as well as in a multitude of 
others, at least place them all on an equal footing. 
Among the several groups into which the falcon tribe 
*s divided, we come to one composed of about sixty 
species, well marked, and, if kept within its proper 
oounds, very natural, to which authors have variously 
a Pplied the’ name of Accipiter, Sparvius, and Astur, 
which last we have adopted. 
round in all parts of the globe, and destroying every 
where great numbers of birds, and small quadrupeds, 
he hawks (by which English name we propose to 
^tiuguish this group more particularly) closelyresemble 
other in colour and changes of plumage, especially 
he North American and European species. They are 
eminently distinguished from all other falcons by their 
”ort wings, not reaching by a considerable length to 
he tip of their tail, which is even, or but very slightly 
ounded; and by their first quill feather or primary, 
he* 1 is very short, while the fourth is constantly the 
^ongest. Tlieir bill, suddenly curved from the base, is 
yj s [ r0ll o and sharp; their head is narrowed before, 
With the eyes placed high, large, and fiery. Their feet 
J,!' ' c . r y ‘' m g> and the toes especially, the middle one 
u Inch is much the longest, and all are armed with 
et y strong sharp talons, well seconding the sanguinary 
a ure of these fierco creatures ; their outer toe is 
nneeted at base by a membrane to the middle one. 
c female is always one-third larger than the male, 
' . * 'e plumage of both is, in most species, dark above 
white beneath; in the adult, barred with reddish 
1 dusky. In the young bird the colour is lighter, the 
fathers skirted with ferruginous, aud the white of the 
uder parts streaked longitudinally with dusky, instead 
betng barred. The tail is uniform in colour with 
