cooper’s hawk. 
7 
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 divided, we 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 Accipiter, 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 falcons by their 
short wings, not reaching by a considerable length to 
the tip of their tail, which is even, or but very slightly 
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 lighter, the 
feathers skirted with ferruginous, and the white of the 
under parts streaked longitudinally with dusky, instead 
of being barred. The tail is uniform in colour with 
