Order I. ACCIPITRES. 
Family II. Falcontiwe. 
The third Subfamily, 
AQIJILINiE, or Eagles, 
have the Bill moderate, the culmen elevated and straight at the base, and then much arched to the tip, 
which is hooked and acute ; the sides much compressed, and the lateral margins more or less festooned ; 
the Nostrils placed in front of the cere, large, and generally oval ; the Wings lengthened and acute, 
with the third, fourth, and fifth quills usually the longest ; the Tail long, ample, and mostly rounded 
at the end ; the Tarsi long, clothed with feathers to the base of the toes, or naked and covered with 
variously formed scales ; the Toes long, strong, united at the base, especially the outer, and the lateral 
toes unequal both in length and strength, the inner being the strongest ; the claws long, strong, much 
curved and acute, that of the inner toe the strongest. 
Aquila Meehr .* 
Bill strong, straight 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 in the cere, large, and rather oblique. Wings lengthened and acute, with the fourth and 
filth 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, loss moderate, 
strong, lateral ones unequal, and all armed with strong, curved, acute claws ; the inner the strongest. 
These noble birds are scattered in most parts of the world, regardless of temperature, but preferring the mountainous 
distiicts. They usually soar to a great height in the air, from whence they generally seek for prey, and it is from such 
elevations that they pounce upon their victims. They are sometimes observed sailing along at no great height above 
tie woody valleys, ravines, and alpine declivities of the mountains, as well as the cultivated land. They may also 
equently be seen seated on a rock, patiently awaiting the approach of some quadruped or bird upon which they can 
prej. Lizards, insects, and even carrion, at times form a portion of their food. Their flight is easy, and is usually 
pei formed in high circuitous sweeps. The nest is composed of sticks, heath, &c., covering a large space of ground, and 
i^encially placed upon a projecting part of an inaccessible cliff, or on the summit of a large tree. The eggs aic 
generally two in number. 
1. A. i .hrysaitos (Linn.) Pall. PI. enl. 410. — Falco fulvus Linn. 
q • en k ! F. niger Gmel. ; F. canadensis Linn. Wils. Amer. 
r n. pi. 55. f. l. ■ I', americanus Gmel .; F. melanaetus Linn.; F. 
melanonotus Lath. Brown’s 111. pi. 2.; F.albus Gmel.; Aquila nobilis 
° l. , Aq. regia Less. ; F. cygneus Lath. 
2. A. heliaca Sav. Hist.de l’Egypt, Ois. t. 12. — Falco im- 
penahs Beehst. PI. col. 151, 152., Gould's B. of Eur. pi. 5. ; F. 
ogdnik Gmel . ; Aquila chrysaetos Leisl. 
3. ? A. bifasciata Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 17. 
4. A. ncevia (Gmel.) Mey. Hist, de l’Egypt, Ois. t. 1. et t. 2. f. 1. 
Falco maculatus Gmel ; Aquila melanaetos Sav. ; Aq. clanga 
Pall. ; Aq. bifasciata Hornsch. 
5. A. fulvescens Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 29- —Aquila fusca et 
Aq. punctata Gray, 111. Ind. Zool. pi. 27- id. i Aq. Vindhiana 
Frankl. 
6. A. ntevio'ides (Cuv.)— Falco rapax Temm. PI. col. 455.; F. 
Choka Smith ; F. obsoletus Licht. ? 
7. A. albicans (Rupp.) Faun. Abyss. 1. 13. 
( 1 844^ Stablished by Moehrin S in 1752. It embraces Uroaetus, Ilicraaetus, PteroaUus, of M. Kaup (1844), and Neopus of Mr. Hodgson 
This latter is coequal with Onichaaetos of M. Kaup, which was published in the same year. 
