FALC0NIF0RME8. 
G. R. Gray, the foremost British ornithologist of the last century, in 
Ms Handlist of Birds, Part I., 1869, divided the Accipitres into four Families, 
viz-i Gypaetidse, Vulturidse, Falconidse and Serpentariidae. The Falconidae 
only concern us, and this was separated into the same seven subfamilies 
he had admitted in 1840. Thus, as regards the larger divisions. Gray had 
not been influenced by Kaup’s work and arguments, for the latter explicitly 
states that he discussed his ideas with Gray, and though agreeing in details 
they had agreed to amicably differ on the larger questions. Soon afterwards 
Sharpe monographed these birds in the first volume of the Catalogue of 
Birds, His ideas were somewhat immature, as he had no previous interest 
in the group as an asset. He admitted two suborders, Falcones and 
Pandiones : the former was divided into two families, Vulturidse and 
Falconidse, the latter again into four subfamilies, Polyborinse, Buteoninse, 
Aquilinse and Falconinse. 
The chief result of this Catalogue was its criticism by J. H. Gurney 
during a period of almost ten years. This worker had made a specialistic 
study of the group and was admittedly competent to provide a review of 
Sharpe’s work. The articles in the Ihis from 1875 to 1882 dealing with 
the species, one by one, show the capability of the writer. This survey 
was completed by a List, as Gurney arranged the Order. This List is a 
remarkable example of the splitting of the specialist, and I here reproduce 
Gurney’s system down to subgenera, as it is certainly the most complete 
yet provided from a study of skins. 
Family Serpentariidse. Genus Serpentarius. 
Family Cathartidsa. Genera Sarcorhamphus, Gyparchus, Pseudogry- 
phus, Rhinogryphus and Catharista. 
Family Vulturidse. Genera Vultur (subgenus Lophogyps), Otogyps, 
Gyps, Pseudogyps and Neophron. 
Family Falconidee with thirteen subfamilies. 
I. Subfamily Gypaetinse. Genus Gypaetus. 
II. Subfamily Gypohieracinse. Genus Gypohierax. 
III. Subfamily Polyborinse. Genera Polyborus, Senex, Phalcobsenus, 
Milvago, Daptrius and Ibycter. 
IV. Subfamily Circaetinse. Genera Herpetotheres, CircaetuSj, Spilornis, 
Dryotriorchis, Eutriorchis and Helotarsus. 
V. Subfamily Gymnogenynse. Genus Polyboroides. 
VI. Subfamily Circinse. Genus Circus. 
VII. Subfamily Accipitrinse. Genera Micrastur, Geranospizias, Uro- 
triorchis, Melierax, Asturinula, Astur, Lophospizias, Nisoides, 
Scelospizias, Erythrospizias, Tachyspizias, Leucospizias, 
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