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WHITE-TAILED HAWK. 
This species is an inhabitant of a great portion of the American 
continent, as the Jllcon bianco of Paraguay, so well described by 
d’Azara, is undoubtedly the same bird. Vieillot undertook to 
classify it from d’Azara’s description, applying to it the name 
of Milvus leucurus; but after more attentive consideration, he 
perceived that it was not a Milvus , but an Elanus. He consequently 
removed it to that genus, which he called Elanoides, at the same 
time asserting, that with the Swallow-tailed Hawk, it ought to 
constitute a different section from the Black-winged Hawk; from 
which, upon actual comparison, it is with difficulty shown to be 
even specifically distinct! Such are the absurdities into which 
authors are betrayed through the highly reprehensible practice to 
which some are addicted, of attempting to classify, and name, 
animals they have never seen, from the descriptions or mere 
indications of travellers. Though by such means, they may 
sometimes gain the credit of introducing a new species, and thus 
deprive future observers who may risk their fortunes, or even their 
lives, in pursuit of imperfectly known animals, of their best reward, 
they cannot fail to incur the merited reprobation of all honourable 
and fair-dealing naturalists. 
Though this bird ranges so widely over the American continent, 
it is every where a rare species, and in the United States appears 
to be confined to the southern extremity. The specimen figured 
in the plate of the natural size, was shot in December, in the 
neighbourhood of St. Augustine, East Florida, at the residence of 
my near relation, Colonel Achilles Murat, whose kind hospitality 
afforded to Mr. Titian Peale every facility for the prosecution of 
his scientific researches. It was observed by Mr. Peale about 
the dawn of day, sitting on the dead branch of an old live-oak, 
attentively watching the borders of an adjacent salt-marsh which 
abounded with Arvicola hispidus, and the different species of 
Sparrow, which make their residence in the Southern parts of 
the union. It was very shy, and on his approach, it flew in easy 
