WHITE-TAILED HAWK. 
15 
that nature,* who, notwithstanding’ her luxuriant 
abundance, evidently accomplishes all her ends with 
the greatest economy of means, has ever placed, abori- 
ginally, in different parts of the globe, individuals of 
the same species; but has always given to each the 
power of extending its range, according to volition, in 
any direction where it should find climate, food, or 
other circumstances most appropriate. 
The white-tailed hawk is one of those anomalous 
species, which connect the generally received divisions 
of the great genus Falco. It participates in the form 
and habits of the kites ( Milvus ,) while in its other 
relations it approaches the true falcons ( Falco ,) and 
at the same time presents traits peculiar to itself. 
Savigny has, therefore, very properly considered its 
near relative, the black-winged, as the type of a peculiar 
group, which he elevates to the rank of a genus, but 
which we for the present shall adopt as a subgenus 
only. Subsequent observations have confirmed Le 
Yaillant’s opinion, that the swallow-tailed hawk ( Falco 
furcatus ,) is closely related to it; and associated with 
a few other recently discovered species, they have 
been considered as a distinct group, under Savigny’s 
name of Flanus. Vieillot adopted the group as a genus, 
but, for what reason we know not, has since changed 
the name to Flanoides. The hawks of this group are 
readily distinguished from all others, by the superior 
length of the second primary of their elongated wings; 
by their bill, rounded above, curved from the base, 
and not toothed ; their hirsute cere; thick, short, and 
wholly reticulated tarsi, half feathered before ; toes 
entirely separated, and powerful nails. The head is 
flattened above, the gape wide, and the eyes large, 
deep sunk, and with the orbits greatly projecting above. 
The colours are also similar in the different species, 
being white, or pale, (bluish white, &c.) with more 
* The word nature being taken in so many different acceptations, 
we think proper to state, that with Ranzani, we mean by it u the 
aggregate of all created beings, and of the laws imposed on them 
by the Supreme Creator.” 
