COOPER’S HAWK. 
367 
cies partaking of the characters of several groups, yet not in 
the least deserving to be isolated ; such as Falco borealis^ which 
is almost as much an Astur as a Buteo, and has been placed by 
authors, according to their different views, in both these groups. 
An extensive reform is evidently needed in the department 
of classification that relates to genera, and we propose, with 
this view, to undertake at some future period a general work, 
when, erecting our system on a more philosophical basis, 
though we may restrict some, and 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 is di- 
vided, w’e come to one composed of about sixty species, well 
marked, and, if kept within its proper bounds, very natural, to 
which authors have variously applied the name of AccipiteVy 
Sparvius^ and Astur ^ which last we have adopted. 
Found in all parts of the globe, and destroying every where 
great numbers of birds, and small quadrupeds, the hawks (by 
which English name we propose to distinguish this group more 
particularly) closely resemble each other in colour and changes 
of plumage, especially the North American and European 
species. They are eminently distinguished from all other fal- 
cons by their short wings, not reaching, by a considerable 
length, to the tip of their tail, which is even, or but very slight- 
ly rounded ; and by their first quill feather, or primary, which 
is very short, while the fourth is constantly the longest. Their 
bill, suddenly curved from the base, is very strong and sharp ; 
their head is narrowed before, with the eyes placed high, large, 
and fiery. Their feet are very long, and the toes especially, 
the middle one of which is much the longest, and all are armed 
with very strong sharp talons, well seconding the sanguinary 
nature of these fierce creatures ; their outer toe is connected at 
base by a membrane to the middle one. The female is always 
one-third larger than the male, and the plumage of both is, in 
most species, dark above, and white beneath; in the adult, 
barred with reddish or dusky. In the young bird the colour is 
