20 
WHITE-TAILED HAWK. 
has, however, a slight indication of it, but no trace of it is 
observable in our African males. 
By admitting this to be a distinct species from the Black-winged 
Hawk, we reject one more of those supposed instances, always 
rare, and daily diminishing upon more critical observation, of a 
common habitation of the same bird in the warm parts of both 
continents, without an extensive range also to the North. A 
steady and long protracted exertion of its powerful wings, would 
have been requisite to enable it to pass the vast and trackless sea 
which lies between the western coast of Africa, the native country 
of the Black-winged Hawk, and the eastern shores of South 
America. Yet were the species identical, this adventurous journey 
must have been performed. For, even admitting several centres 
of creation, we cannot believe that Nature,* who, notwithstanding 
her luxuriant abundance, evidently accomplishes all her ends with 
the greatest economy of means, has ever placed, aboriginally, 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 
* The word nature being taken in so many different acceptations, we think proper 
to state, that with Ranzani, we mean hy it “ the aggregate of all created beings, and of 
the laws imposed on them hy the Supreme Creator.” 
