Cassells Book of Birds Vol II of 4 by Alfred Edmund Brehm

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The Project Gutenberg eBook, Cassell's Book of Birds,
Vol. II (of 4), by Alfred Edmund Brehm, Translated by

Thomas Rymer Jones

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Title: Cassell's Book of Birds, Vol. II (of 4)
From the Text of Dr Brehm
Author: Alfred Edmund Brehm
Release Date: July 5, 2018 [eBook #57450]
Language: English
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Plate 15. Cassell's Book of Birds

THE PURPLE CRESTED CORYTHAIX ____ Corythaix macrorhynchus

Nat. Size

[See larger version]

CASSELL'S

BOOK OF BIRDS.

FROM THE TEXT OF DR. BREHM.

BY

THOMAS RYMER JONES, F.R.S.,

PROFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY AND COMPARATIVE ANATOMY IN KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON.

WITH UPWARDS OF

Four Hundred Engravings, and a Series of Coloured Plates.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

CASSELL, PETTER, AND GALPIN;

AND NEW YORK.

PAGE

1-7

7-31

31-37

37-47

47-56

56-64

64-84

84-99

99-103

CONTENTS.

CATCHERS (Captantes).—Continued.

THE HAWKS (Accipiter):—The Laughing Hawk—The Double-toothed Hawk—The Sparrow Hawk—
The True Hawk, or Gos Hawk. The SINGING HAWKS (Melierax):—The True Singing Hawk—The
Serpent Hawk

RAPTORIAL BIRDS.

THE EAGLES (Aquila):—The Tawny Eagle—The Golden Eagle—The Imperial Eagle—The Spotted
Eagle. The DWARF EAGLES (Hieraëtos):—The Booted Eagle—The Dwarf Eagle. The WEDGE-TAILED
EAGLES (Uroaëtos):—The Bold Wedge-tailed Eagle. The HAWK EAGLES (Pseudaëtos, Eudolmaëtos,
or Asturaëtos):—Bonelli's Hawk Eagle. The HOODED EAGLES (Spizaëtos):—The Martial Hooded Eagle
—The Tufted Eagle. The DESTROYING EAGLES (Pternura):—The Urutaurana. The BRAZILIAN EAGLES
(Morphnus):—The Crested Brazilian Eagle—The Harpy Eagle. The SEA EAGLES (Haliaëtos):—The Sea
Eagle—The White-headed Sea Eagle—The African Screaming Sea Eagle—The Osprey, River Eagle, or
Fish Hawk

THE KITES (Milvus):—The Short-tailed Kite. The GLIDING KITES (Elanus):—The True Gliding Kite. The
HOVERING KITES (Ictinia):—The Mississippi Kite. The CROOKED-BILLED KITES (Cymindis):—The
Buzzard Kite—The Syama or Baza

THE TRUE KITES:—The Black Kite—The Govinda—The Parasite Kite—The Red or Royal Kite—The
Swallow-tailed Kite. The CHELIDOPTERI:—The Dwarf Swallow-tailed Kite. The FIELD KITES, or
HARRIERS (Circus). The MEADOW KITES (Strigiceps):—The Blue Kite or Hen Harrier—The Kite of the
Steppes, or Pallid Harrier—The Meadow Kite, or Ash-coloured Harrier—The Reed Kite, or Marsh
Harrier. SPOTTED KITES (Spilocircus):—Jardine's Spotted Kite

THE BUZZARDS (Buteo). The SNAKE BUZZARDS (Circaëtos):—The Snake Buzzard. The CRESTED
BUZZARDS (Spilornis):—The Bacha—The Honey Buzzard, or Wasp Kite—The Crested Honey Buzzard
—The Rough-legged Buzzard—The Common or Mouse Buzzard—The Red-winged or Grasshopper
Buzzard—The Tesa—The Caracolero, Snail Buzzard, or Hook-beaked Buzzard—The Urubitinga

THE VULTURE FALCONS (Polyborus):—The Chimango—The Vulture Buzzard—The Carancho or Traro.
SCREAMING BUZZARDS (Ibicter):—The Ganga—The Secretary or Crane Vulture

THE VULTURES (Vulturidæ):—The Bearded Vulture. The TRUE VULTURES (Vultur). The CONDORS, or
WATTLED VULTURES (Sarcorhamphus):—The Condor—The Californian Condor—The King of the
Vultures. The GOOSE VULTURES (Gyps):—The Tawny Goose Vulture—The Sparrow-hawk Goose
Vulture. The CRESTED VULTURES:—The Cowled Vulture—The Variegated or Crested Vulture. The
EARED VULTURES (Otogyps). The RAVEN VULTURES (Catharta):—The Scavenger or Egyptian Raven
Vulture—The Monk Vulture—The Urubu or Turkey Buzzard—The Gallinazo

THE OWLS (Striginæ).

THE DAY OWLS (Surnia):—The Sparrow-hawk Owl—The Snow Owl. The STONE OWLS (Athene):—
The Stone Owl Proper. The BURROWING OWLS (Pholeoptynx):—The Brazilian or Rabbit Owl—The
Prairie Owl. The SPARROW OWLS (Microptynx):—The European Sparrow Owl. The Eared Owls, or
UHUS (Bubo):—The Uhu—The Short-eared Uhu—The Milk-white Uhu—The Virginian Uhu—The
Brown Fish Owl—The Woodland Owl—The Marsh Owl. The DWARF EARED OWLS (Scops):—The
Dwarf Eared Owl

THE NOCTURNAL OWLS:—The Tree Owl—The Hairy-footed Owl. The VEILED OWLS (Strix):—
Kirchhoff's Veiled Owl—The Flame Owl, or Barn Owl

THE GAPERS (Hiantes).

[Pg iii]

[Pg iv]

104-111

111-115

115-124

124-140

140-158

158-174

174-185

186-193

THE SWALLOWS (Hirundo). The TRUE SWALLOWS (Cecropis):—The Chimney Swallow—The Senegal
Swallow—The Thread-tailed Swallow—the Martin or Roof Swallow

THE MOUNTAIN or SHORE SWALLOWS (Cotyle):—The Rock Swallow—The Sand Martin—The Ariel
Swallow. The WOOD SWALLOWS (Atticora):—The Striped Wood Swallow. The SAILOR SWALLOWS
(Progne):—The Purple Swallow

THE SWIFTS (Cypselus). The TREE SWIFTS (Dendrochelidon):—The Klecho. The SALANGANES
(Collocalia):—The Salangane Proper—The Kusappi. The PRICKLY-TAILED SWIFTS (Acanthylis):—The
White-throated Prickly-tailed Swift—The Dwarf Swift—The Palm-tree Swift—The Steeple Swift—The
Alpine Swift

THE NIGHT JARS, or GOATSUCKERS (Caprimulgus):—The Nacunda. The TWILIGHT NIGHT JARS
(Chordeiles):—The Night Falcon—The Common Goatsucker—The Resplendent Goatsucker. The
BRISTLED NIGHT JARS (Antrostomus):—The Whip-poor-Will. The AFRICAN NIGHT JARS (Scotornis).
The LYRE-TAILED NIGHT JARS (Hydropsalis):—The Lyre-tailed Night Jar. MACRODIPTERYX:—The
Long-winged Macrodipteryx—The Streamer-bearing Night Jar, or "Four Wings." The GIANT
GOATSUCKERS (Nyctibius):—The Ibijau, or Earth-eater—The Guachero, or Oil Bird. The OWL
SWALLOWS (Podargus):—The DWARF OWL SWALLOWS (Ægotheles):—The True Dwarf Owl Swallow.
The GIANT OWL SWALLOWS (Podargus):—The Giant Owl Swallow. The FROG-MOUTHS
(Batrachostomus):—The Plumed Frog-mouth

THE SINGING BIRDS (Oscines).

THE TOOTH-BEAKED SINGING BIRDS (Dentirostres). The SHRIKES (Lanius):—The Sentinel Butcher
Bird, or Great Grey Shrike—The Southern Shrike—The Grey, or Black-browed Shrike. The B
UTCHER

BIRDS PROPER (Enneoctonus):—The Red-backed Shrike, or True Butcher Bird—The Red-headed
Shrike, or Wood Chat—The Masked Shrike. The THICK-HEADED SHRIKES (Pachycephalus):—The
Falcon Shrike. The BUSH SHRIKES (Malaconotus). The FLUTE-VOICED SHRIKES (Laniarius):—The
Scarlet Shrike—The Flute Shrike. The HOODED SHRIKES:—The Tschagra—The Helmet Shrike. The
CROW SHRIKES (Cracticus):—The Magpie Shrike. The RAVEN SHRIKES (Thamnophilus):—Vigors'
Raven Shrike. The DRONGO SHRIKES (Edolius):—The King Crow, or Finga. The DRONGOS (Chaptia):
—The Singing Drongo. The FLAG-BEARING DRONGOS (Edolius or Dissemurus):—The Bee King. The
DRONGO SHRIKES. The SWALLOW SHRIKES (Artamius):—The Wood Shallow Shrike

THE FLY-CATCHERS. The KING or TYRANT SHRIKES (Tyrannus):—The True Tyrant Shrike, King Bird,
or Tyrant Fly-catcher—The Bentevi. The FORK-TAILED TYRANTS (Milvulus):—The Scissor Bird—The
Royal Tyrant. The STILTED FLY-CATCHERS (Fluvicola):—The Yiperu, or Yetapa—The Cock-tailed Fly-
catcher. The CATERPILLAR EATERS (Campephaga):—The Red Bird, or Great Pericrocotus. The FLY-
SNAPPERS (Myiagra). The PARADISE FLY-CATCHERS:—The Paradise or Royal Fly-snapper. The
FANTAILS (Rhipidura):—The Wagtail Fantail. The TRUE FLY-CATCHERS (Muscicapa):—The Grey or
Spotted Fly-catcher. The MOURNING FLY-CATCHERS (Muscicapa):—The Black-capped or Pied Fly-
catcher—The Collared or White-necked Fly-catcher—The Dwarf Fly-catcher. The SILK-TAILS
(Bombycilla):—The European, or Common Silk-tail, Bohemian Chatterer, or Wax-wing

THE MANAKINS (Pipra). The ROCK BIRDS (Rupicola):—The Cock of the Rock. The TRUE MANAKINS
(Pipra). The LONG-TAILED MANAKINS (Chiroxiphia):—The Long-tailed Manakin—The Tije—The
Black-cap Manakin. The PANTHER BIRDS (Pardalotus):—The Diamond Bird. The BALD-HEADED
CROWS (Gymnoderus):—The Capuchin Bird, or Bald Fruit Crow—The Umbrella Bird, or Umbrella
Chatterer. The BELL BIRDS (Chasmarhynchus):—The Bare-necked Bell Bird—The Araponga—The
True Bell Bird—The Three-wattled Bell Bird, or Hammerer. The THRUSHES (Turdidæ). The GROUND
SINGERS (Humicola)

THE NIGHTINGALES (Luscinia):—The Nightingale. The HEDGE SINGERS, or TREE NIGHTINGALES
(Aëaou or Agrobates):—The Tree Nightingale. The BLUE-THROATED WARBLERS (Cyanecula)—
Swedish Blue-throat—White-starred Blue-throat. The RUBY NIGHTINGALES (Calliope):—The Calliope
of Kamschatka. The Robin Redbreast

THE WARBLERS (Monticola). The REDSTARTS (Ruticilla):—The Black-capped Redstart—The Garden
Redstart. The MEADOW WARBLERS (Pratincola):—The Brown-throated Meadow Warbler—The
Black-throated Meadow Warbler. The CLIPPERS (Ephthianura):—The Wagtail Clipper. The CHATS

[Pg v]

193-204

204-223

223-232

232-237

237-269

269-274

274-282

282-292

292-296

296-320

(Saxicola):—The Fallow Chat, or Wheatear—The Eared Stone Chat and Black-throated Stone Chat.
The RUNNING WARBLERS (Dromolæa):—The White-tailed Wheatear. The STONE THRUSHES, or ROCK
WAGTAILS (Petrocincla):—The Stone Thrush, or Rock Wagtail—The Blue Rock Wagtail, or Blue
Thrush—The Bush Warbler

THE THRUSHES (Turdus):—The Red-winged Thrush—The Red-throated Thrush—The Pale Thrush—The
Siberian Thrush—The Wandering Thrush—The Hermit Thrush—Wilson's Thrush—Swainson's Thrush—
Dwarf Thrush—The Soft-feathered Thrush—The Black-throated Thrush—The Ground Thrush—The
Missel Thrush—The Song Thrush—The Fieldfare, or Juniper Thrush—The Redwing—The Ring Ouzel, or
Ring Thrush—The Blackbird, Black Thrush, or Merle. The MOCKING THRUSHES (Mimus):—The Mimic
Thrush, or Mocking Bird—The Ferruginous Mocking Bird, or Thrasher—The Cat Bird. The B
ABBLERS,

or NOISY THRUSHES (Timalia):—The Grey Bird—Le Vaillant's Grey Bird. The TRUE BABBLERS
(Timalia):—The Red-headed Babbler. The HOOK-CLAWED BABBLERS (Crateropus):—The White-
rumped Babbler. The LAUGHING THRUSHES (Garrulax):—The White-tufted Laughing Thrush

THE WATER OUzels (Cinclus):—The Water Ouzel, or Dipper—The American Water Ouzel. The PITTAS,
or PAINTED THRUSHES (Pitta):—The Nurang—The Pulih—The Noisy Pitta—The ANT THRUSHES
(Myiothera):—The Fire Eye—The Ant King—The Tapacolo or Tualo

THE LYRE BIRD (Menura superba)

THE WARBLERS (Sylvia). The SONG WARBLERS (Sylvia). The TRUE SONG WARBLERS (Curruca):—The
Sparrow-hawk Warbler—The Orpheus Warbler—The Greater Pettichaps, or Garden Warbler—The
Lesser Whitethroat—The Capirote, or Black-cap—The White Throat—The Spectacled Warbler—The
White-bearded Warbler—The Fire-eyed Warbler—Rüppell's Warbler—The Black-headed Fire-eyed
Warbler—The Sardinian Fire-eyed Black-head—The Provence Fire-eyed Warbler, or Dartford Warbler.
The TREE WARBLERS (Phylloscopus):—The Field Tree Warbler, or Willow Wren. The LEAF WRENS
(Reguloides):—The Leaf Wren. The GARDEN WARBLERS (Hypolais):—The Melodious Willow Wren—
The Chiff-Chaff—The Ashy Garden Warbler. The MARSH WARBLERS (Calamodytæ). The REED
WARBLERS (Acrocephalus):—The True Reed Warbler. The SEDGE WARBLERS (Calamodus):—The
Sedge Warbler. The GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS (Locustella):—The Grasshopper Warbler. The BUSH
WARBLERS (Drymoica):—The Pinc-Pinc. The TAILOR BIRDS (Orthotomus):—The Long-tailed Tailor
Bird—The Emu Wren

THE WRENS (Troglodytæ):—The Common Wren. The MARSH WRENS (Thryothorus):—The Carolina
Wren—The House Wren—The Flute-player

THE PIPITS (Anthus):—The Meadow Pipit, or Meadow Titling—The Tree Pipit—The Rock Pipit, Shore
Pipit, or Sea Titling—The Stone Pipit, or Fallow-land Pipit. The SPURRED PIPITS (Corydalla):—
Richard's Spurred Pipit

THE WAGTAILS (Motacilla):—The White Wagtail—The Pied Wagtail—The Dhobin—The Rock Wagtail
—The Mountain Wagtail. The SHEEP WAGTAILS (Budytes):—The Cow or Meadow Wagtail—Ray's
Wagtail—The Velvet-headed or Sheep Wagtail—The Yellow-headed Wagtail—The Gomarita, or
Garden Wagtail. The SWALLOW WAGTAILS (Enicurus):—The MENINTING

THE ACCENTORS (Accentor). The HEDGE SPARROWS, or HEDGE WARBLERS (Tharraleus, or Accentor):
—The Hedge Sparrow, or Hedge Warbler—The Siberian Accentor—The Alpine Accentor

THE TITS (Parus). The CRESTED WRENS or KINGLETS (Regulus):—The Golden-crested Wren—The
Dalmatian Wren—The Fire-crested Wren—The Satrap Crowned Wren—The Ruby Crowned Wren.
The Penduline Titmice (Ægithalus):—The True Penduline Titmouse. The REED TITMICE (Panurus):—
The Bearded Titmouse. The LONG-TAILED TITS (Orites):—The Long-tailed Titmouse. The CRESTED TITS
(Lophophanes):—The Crested Tit—The Toupet Tit. The WOOD TITS (Parus):—The Great Tit—The
Sombre Tit—The Cole Tit. The BLUE TITS:—The Blue Tit—The Azure Tit—The Siberian Tit—The
Marsh Tit—The Carolina Titmouse—The Black-cap Titmouse

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

COLOURED PLATES.

[Pg vi]

[Pg vii]

PLATE XI.—THE ANGOLA VULTURE.

"
XII.—THE JAVA OWL.

"
XIII.—THE TAWNY GOATSUCKER.

"
XIV.—THE RED-BACKED SHRIKE.

"
XV.—THE PURPLE-CRESTED CORYTHAIX.

"
XVI.—EGGS.

"
XVII.—EGGS.

"
XVIII.—THE NIGHTINGALE.

"
XIX.—THE AZURE PITTA.

"
XX.—THE ORONOKO CORACINA.

WOOD ENGRAVINGS.

FIG.
PAGE

1. The Gos Hawk (Astur palumbarius)
4

2. Eagles
8

3. The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaëtos)
12

4. The Imperial Eagle (Aquila imperialis)
13

5. Bold Wedge-tailed Eagles (Uroaëtos audax)
16

6. The Tufted Eagle (Lophoaëtos occipitalis)
20

7. The Harpy Eagle (Harpyia destructor)
24

8. The Sea Eagle (Haliaëtos albicilla)
25

9. The White-headed Sea Eagle (Haliaëtos leucocephalus)
28

10. The African Screaming Sea Eagle (Haliaëtos vocifer)
29

11. The Short-tailed Kite (Helotarsus ecaudatus)
33

12. The Parasite Kite (Hydroictinia parasitica)
40

13. The Red or Royal Kite (Milvus regalis)
41

14. The Swallow-tailed Kite (Nauclerus furcatus)
42

15. The Reed Kite or Marsh Harrier (Circus rufus)
45

16. The Snake Buzzard (Circaëtos brachydactylus, or Circaëtos Gallicus)
48

17. The Common or Mouse Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris)
53

18. The Carancho or Traro (Polyborus vulgaris or Brasiliensis)
60

19. Track across the Pampas
61

20. The Secretary, or Crane Vulture (Gypogeranus serpentarius)
64

21. Vultures feasting
65

22. The Bearded Vulture, or Lämmergeier (Gypaëtos barbatus)
68

23. The Condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus, or Sarcorhamphus condor)
72

24. The King of the Vultures (Sarcorhamphus papa)
73

25. The Tawny Goose Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
76

26. The Monk Vulture (Neophron pileatus)
79

27. African Vultures (Gyps fulvus)
80

28. The Scavenger, or Egyptian Vulture (Percnopterus stercorarius, or Neophron Percnopterus) 81
29. The Urubu (Cathartes aura)
83

30. The Snow Owl (Nyctea nivea)
88

31. The Stone Owl (Athene noctua)
89

32. The Uhu at bay
92

33. The Uhu (Bubo maximus)
93

34. The Virginian Uhu (Bubo Virginianus)
96

35. The Marsh Owl (Otus brachyotus)
97

36. The Tree Owl (Syrnium aluco)
100

37. The Barn Owl (Strix flammea)
101

38. Tail-piece
103

39. The Chimney Swallow (Cecropis Hirundo rustica)
105

40. The Thread-tailed Swallow (Cecropis Uromitus filifera)
108

41. The Martin (Chelidon urbica)
109

42. The Ariel (Chelidon Ariel)
113

43. The Klecho (Dendrochelidon Klecho)
116

44. Salanganes
117

45. The White-throated Prickly-tailed Swift (Acanthylis caudacuta)
120

46. The Steeple Swift (Cypselus apus)
121

47. The European Goatsucker (Caprimulgus Europæus)
128

48. The Whip-poor-Will (Antrostomus vociferus)
129

49. The Lyre-tailed Night Jar (Hydropsalis forcipata)
130

50. The Oil Bird (Steatornis Caripensis)
133

51. The True Dwarf Owl Swallow (Ægotheles Novæ Hollandiæ)
137

52. The Giant Owl Swallow (Podargus humeralis)
139

53. The Sentinel Butcher Bird (Lanius Excubitor)
144

54. Butcher Bird and Fly-catchers
145

55. The Falcon Shrike (Falcunculus frontatus)
148

56. The Flute Shrike (Laniarius Æthiopicus)
149

57. The Helmet Shrike (Prionops poliocephalus)
152

58. The Magpie Shrike (Cracticus destructor)
153

59. The True Tyrant Shrike, King Bird, or Tyrant Fly-catcher (Tyrannus intrepidus)
160

60. The Scissor Bird (Milvulus tyrannus)
161

61. The Paradise Fly-catchers (Tersiphone paradisea)
165

62. The Collared or White-necked Fly-catcher (Musicapa albicollis)
172

63. The Silk-tail, Bohemian Chatterer, or Wax-wing (Bombycilla garrula)
173

64. The Cock of the Rock (Rupicola crocea)
176

65. The Diamond Bird (Pardalotus punctatus)
179

66. The Capuchin Bird, or Bald Fruit Crow (Gymnocephalus calvus)
180

67. The Umbrella Bird, or Umbrella Chatterer (Cephalopterus ornatus)
181

68. The Nightingale (Luscinia Philomela)
185

69. The Swedish Blue-throat (Cyanecula Suecica)
189

70. The Robin Redbreast (Erythaca rubecula, or Rubecula silvestris)
192

71. The Garden Redstart (Ruticilla phœnicura, or Phœnicura ruticilla)
193

72. The Black-throated Meadow Warbler (Pratincola rubicola)
196

73. The Wheatear (Saxicola œnanthe)
197

74. The Eared Stone Chat (Saxicola aurita)
200

75. The Stone Thrush, or Rock Wagtail (Petrocincla Turdus saxatilis)
201

76. The Bush Warbler (Thamnolæa albiscapulata)
204

77. The Song Thrush (Turdus musicus)
208

78. Fieldfares
209

79. The Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
210

[Pg viii]

80. The Blackbird (Turdus merula)
212

81. The Mocking Bird (Mimus polyglottus)
213

82. The Cat Bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis)
217

83. The Grey Bird (Pycnonotus arsinoë)
219

84. The White-rumped Babbler (Crateropus leucopygius)
221

85. The White-tufted Laughing Thrush (Garrulax leucolophus)
222

86. Water Ouzels and Kingfisher
224

87. The Water Ouzel, or Dipper (Cinclus aquaticus)
225

88. The Tapacolo (Pteroptochus megapodius)
232

89. The Lyre Bird (Menura superba)
233

90. The Sparrow-hawk Warbler (Curruca nisoria)
239

91. The Orpheus Warbler (Curruca Orphea)
241

92. The White Throat (Curruca cinerea)
245

93. The Spectacled Warbler (Curruca conspicillata)
248

94. The Field Tree Warbler, or Willow Wren (Phyllopneuste Trochilus)
253

95. The Chiff-Chaff (Hippolais rufa)
256

96. The Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus turdoides)
257

97. The Sedge Warbler (Calamodus phragmitis)
260

98. The Long-tailed Tailor Bird (Orthotomus longicauda)
265

99. The Emu Wren (Stipiturus malachurus)
268

100. The Common Wren (Troglodytes parvulus)
269

101. The Tree Pipit (Anthus arboreus)
276

102. The Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus)
277

103. The Fallow-land Pipit (Agrodroma campestris)
280

104. Wren and Wagtails
281

105. The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
284

106. The Mountain Wagtail (Calobates sulphurea)
288

107. The Meninting (Enicurus coronatus)
293

108. The Alpine Accentor (Accentor Alpinus)
296

109. The Golden crested Wren (Regulus vulgaris, flavicapillus, or auricapillus)
300

110. Bearded and Penduline Tits
304

111. The Long-tailed Titmouse (Orites caudatus)
308

112. The Great Tit (Parus major)
313

CASSELL'S

BOOK OF BIRDS.

—♦—

CATCHERS (Captantes).—Continued.

THE HAWKS.

THE HAWKS (Accipitres) are a group of birds that rival the Falcons in rapacity, but are entirely without those qualities
popularly supposed to lend a certain nobility to the murderous propensities of their more favoured relatives.
The HAWKS are recognisable by their compact body, long neck, and small head, their short rounded wings, very long
tail, and high tarsi; the toes vary considerably in size. The beak is less vaulted and more compressed at its sides than in

[Pg 1]

the Falcons; the tooth-like appendages are placed further back, and are less distinctly developed, and the bare circle
around the eye is entirely wanting. The plumage is thick and soft, usually dark blueish grey above, and of a lighter shade
upon the lower parts of the body, the latter being often darkly striped. Old birds of both sexes are alike in plumage, but
the young differ considerably from their parents. The members of this family are found throughout the whole world,
some species being confined to a comparatively limited extent of country, whilst others are to be met with everywhere.
All frequent woods and forests, from whence they sally forth to find their food in the fields and valleys of the
surrounding country. Hawks seldom fly to any great altitude; they move with great rapidity, altering their course at once
with the utmost facility, and passing in and out among the branches and bushes with the dexterity of a Martin; they run
swiftly upon the ground, assisting their progress with their wings. Their eyrie is usually built upon high trees, and is by
some species prettily decked with green twigs, which are renewed from time to time. The eggs are numerous, and
during the period of incubation the parent birds will fiercely attack even men should they attempt to molest the brood.
Some few species have been trained for hunting purposes, but these attempts have almost always proved unsuccessful.

THE LAUGHING HAWK.

The LAUGHING HAWK (Herpetotheres cachinnans) is a South American bird, to which we have assigned the first
place, inasmuch as in some respects it resembles the Falcons; the name it bears has been given to it on account of the
very peculiar sound of its loud and resonant voice. Its distinguishing characteristics are its comparatively large head,
which is profusely covered with feathers, and the robust development of the hinder parts of its body. The wings when
closed reach to the middle of the tail, their primaries are narrow and pointed, the third and fourth quills being longer than
the rest; the tail is long, the exterior feathers somewhat shortened; the tarsi are of moderate height and strength, the toes
small, and the claws remarkably short and thick; the beak is short, much compressed at its sides, and terminates in a
short hook; the lower mandible is shallow, and bifurcated at its tip; the region of the eye is bare, and the body covered
with long-pointed and strong-shafted feathers. In size the Laughing Hawk resembles its European congeners; the
plumage is pale yellow from the top of the head to the nape, each feather having a black shaft; the bridles, nape, and
cheeks are black, the mantle brown, the feathers being bordered with a lighter shade; the entire lower portion of the
body and a stripe upon the neck are white, which changes into red upon the breast and legs; the upper part of the tail is
black, its under portion whitish yellow, tipped with white and ornamented with six or seven grey stripes; the inner web
of the brown quills which form the wings is shaded from reddish yellow to white, and edged with a delicate irregular
brown line; the eye is reddish yellow, the beak black, the cere and legs are yellow.

THE DOUBLE-TOOTHED HAWK.

The DOUBLE-TOOTHED HAWK (Harpagus bidentatus) resembles the Falcons in its general form, but is recognisable by
its comparatively small head, long broad tail, and short wings. The beak is very peculiar in its construction, the upper
portion being excised immediately behind the hook at its tip, and the lower mandible, which terminates abruptly, has
near its extremity two sharp teeth at each side; the third quill of the wings is longer than the rest, the tarsi are short, and
of the same length as the toes. This bird, of which there are two species, is only found in South America.
The Guaviao, as the Double-toothed Hawk is called by the Brazilians, is thirteen and a half inches long and twenty-six
inches broad; the wing measures eight inches, and the tail six inches. The plumage upon the upper part of the body is
blackish grey, embellished with a metallic lustre; the under portions are reddish brown, with narrow white stripes upon
the throat; the rump is also white, the quills of the wings are brown, ornamented with an irregular border, which is pure
white upon the inner web; the tail is black above, brown beneath, and marked with three broad and crooked lines; the
eye is light carmine, the cere greenish yellow, the beak blackish grey, and the feet of a beautiful reddish yellow. The
plumage of the young is brown above and white beneath, delicately marked with undulating brown lines of various
shades.

THE SPARROW HAWK.

The SPARROW HAWK (Nisus communis) is the European representative of a very numerous group distributed
throughout the world. These birds (see Coloured Plate IX.) are distinguished by their elongated body, small head, and
delicate beak, furnished with a very sharp hook at the extremity of the upper mandible; the wings are short, tail long,
and short at its tip; the tarsi are high and weak, the toes long and slender, and armed with extremely sharp claws. The
plumage varies but little in its colour. This species is about one foot long, and two broad; the wing measures seven
inches and two-thirds, and the tail six inches; the female is about three inches longer and five inches broader than her
mate. In the full-grown bird the entire upper portion of the body is blackish grey, the under parts are white, marked with
undulating reddish brown lines; the shafts of the feathers are also of the latter hue, and brighter in colour in the male than
in the female; the tail is tipped with white, and has five or six black stripes. In the young birds the upper portion of the
body is a greyish brown, beneath the throat white, striped with brown; the belly and legs are ornamented with irregular
spots, the beak is blue, the cere yellow, the iris golden yellow, and the feet pale yellow.
The Sparrow Hawk inhabits the whole of Europe and Central Asia; it is stationary in some parts of the latter continent,
but migrates from Europe as winter approaches, and seeks a warmer climate in Northern Africa or India, appearing,
according to Jerdon, in the latter country about the beginning of October, and leaving about February or March. This

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species makes its home principally in woodland districts, preferring such regions as are mountainous or hilly, and is
more numerous in the central portions of Europe than in the extreme south. Despite the shortness of its wings, the
Sparrow Hawk flies with ease and rapidity, but when upon the ground it hops in the most ungainly manner. Towards
such of its feathered brethren as are larger than itself it exhibits no trace of fear, and pounces upon its prey with a
dexterity and courage that will bear comparison with the demeanour of the noblest of its congeners. In these encounters,
the female bird has decidedly the advantage over her mate, and can bear the brunt of a battle to which his strength
would be quite inadequate. Instances have been recorded in which this Hawk has been so eager in the pursuit of its
prey as to follow the victim even into a house or wagon, and we lately heard of one darting into a railway carriage when
in rapid motion in order to secure its prize. Birds of all sizes, including domestic fowls, are boldly attacked; Naumann
mentions having even seen a Sparrow Hawk swoop down and fasten itself upon the back of a Heron. Small
quadrupeds are devoured by these birds in great numbers, and they will sometimes stoop upon hares, but whether this
is done with any hope of overcoming them, or merely for pleasure, we have not been able to ascertain. In so much
dread is this formidable enemy held by the objects of its attack, that on its approach some birds will throw themselves
as though dead upon the ground; others will make for their hiding-place with such devious turnings from the direct path
as baffle even the skilful steering of their pursuer, and then dart into the inmost recesses of some protecting bush, and
thus place themselves for the time in safety. Such of the swift-flying smaller birds as do not hold the Sparrow Hawk in
dread, avenge themselves by following it boldly with loud cries whenever it appears; and so annoying does this
reception prove to the tyrant of the woodland, that on the approach of some species of Swallows, whose flight is too
rapid to admit of revenge, it will soar at once high into the air and beat a hasty retreat to its forest glades. The prey of
the Sparrow Hawk is usually conveyed to some quiet spot to be devoured at leisure; the large quills are then pulled out
and the carcase devoured piecemeal, the indigestible portions, such as bones, feathers, and hair, being subsequently
ejected from the mouth, collected into large balls called castings; it also frequently destroys the eggs and young of such
birds as make their nests upon the ground. The voice of this species is but seldom heard except during the breeding
season. The nest, which is placed in some thicket at no great elevation, is built of small branches of fir, birch, or pine
trees, and the slight hollow that forms the bed for the young is lined with down from the body of the female parent. The
eggs, from three to five in number, are large, and very various both in shape, colour, and size; the shell is thick, smooth,
white, or greyish or greenish white, and more or less distinctly marked with spots of reddish brown or greyish blue,
sometimes lying thickly together and sometimes very sparsely scattered over the surface. The female alone sits upon the
eggs, and testifies the utmost solicitude and affection for her young brood, retaining her seat upon the nest in spite of
repeated alarms, and doing battle with all intruders. Both parents seek the food necessary for the young family, though
the female only is capable of preparing morsels delicate enough for the tender beaks of the nestlings, who, we are told,
occasionally perish from hunger should they lose their mother and be left to the more clumsy ministrations of the male
bird. The young are fed and instructed long after they have left the nest. Most numerous are the dangers to which the
European Sparrow Hawk is exposed, for not only men, but all such birds as are more powerful than itself pursue it with
unextinguishable hatred and animosity; in some parts of Asia, on the contrary, it is regarded with favour, owing to the
facility with which it can be trained to hunt the smaller kinds of game, particularly Quails; in the southern districts of the
Ural, according to Eversmann, large numbers caught in the summer are trained for this purpose, and after having been
employed during the autumn are again let loose in order to avoid the difficulty of keeping them through the winter
months. The female alone is reared for the chase, the male, when captured, being allowed to fly again, as useless. In
India this bird and another species are regarded with equal favour, and are employed by the native falconers in the
pursuit of Partridges, Quails, Snipes, Pigeons, and Minas.

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THE GOS HAWK (Astur palumbarius).

THE TRUE HAWK, OR GOS HAWK.

The TRUE HAWK, or GOS HAWK (Aster palumbarius) resembles the Sparrow Hawk in many of its features, but differs
from that bird in the compactness of its body, and in the strength of its beak; the tail is rounded, the feet powerful, and
the plumage peculiarly marked. This Hawk is about one foot and three-quarters in length, and three feet and a half
across; the wing measures twelve inches, and the tail eight and a half; the female is five inches longer and six inches
broader than her mate. The plumage upon the upper part of the body is blackish brown, more or less shaded with
greyish blue; the lower portions are white, the shafts of the feathers being brownish black, as are the undulating lines
with which they are ornamented; the beak is greyish brown, the cere, eyes, and feet pale yellow. In young birds the
upper portion of the body is brown, each feather being bordered and spotted with reddish yellow; the lower parts are
of a reddish shade, and at a later period of a reddish white, marked with longitudinal brown streaks; the beak, eyes,
cere, and feet are paler than in the adult.
The habitat of the Gos Hawk is as extensive as that of the Sparrow Hawk; it is found in great numbers in northern
countries, and in some districts may be regarded as stationary; in Southern Europe it is extremely rare, and, according
to our own observation, is seldom met with in Northern Africa or India. Wooded country, interspersed with fields and
valleys, afford it the localities it prefers, and it is much more numerous in extensive forests than in comparatively small
woods. In its habits this species is eminently unsocial, living almost invariably alone, except during the breeding season;
its disposition is cunning, wild, and violent, and its movements active and powerful. When upon the wing, it may be seen
hovering from time to time, and then rushing down upon its prey with noisy impetuosity; in making a swoop it cleaves
the air with great force, the tail at these times being partly outspread. In the air the Gos-Hawk is completely master of
its movements, and steers its course with imposing majesty; whilst upon the ground, on the contrary, its gait is awkward
and ungainly, its step being a sort of lame hop. Its voice consists of a variety of sounds, but is rarely heard; it is loud,
resonant, and extremely unpleasing. So rapacious is this formidable bird, that its destructive attacks are repeated almost
without intermission during the entire day on birds of all sizes, and even rabbits, squirrels, and water-fowl may be
numbered among its victims, the prey being seized with equal facility either when running, flying, or swimming; some of
the smaller quadrupeds are so completely paralysed with fear at the approach of their destroyer that they crouch down
incapable of moving a limb, while the Hawk swoops down upon them with wings almost closed and talons outspread,
producing as it descends a rushing sound, that may be heard above a hundred paces from the spot. Remarkable
anecdotes are cited by reliable writers of the extreme cunning and intelligence of these birds when strength proves
unavailing. Count Wodzicki tells of a sagacious Hawk that, when all other means had failed by which it hoped to seize
upon some tempting but wary pigeons, at length decided upon perching motionless upon a branch, with neck drawn in,
so as to simulate an owl; the ruse completely succeeded, for the birds, fearing nothing from the huge but helpless
looking creature, ventured out and were seized with a rapidity from which escape was hopeless. The same author
mentions an instance of a trick played upon another flock of pigeons, in which very different means were adopted; the
Hawk in this case, finding that its hoped-for prey utterly refused to come out and allow themselves to be caught, at last
alighted upon the dove-cot, and beat and stamped upon it with such violence that the terrified inhabitants were fairly
driven from their retreat. Audubon mentions having seen a Hawk kill five Blackbirds in succession as a flock was

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passing the Ohio, the victims being successively thrown down upon the water until the destroyer had time to collect
them at his leisure; this latter feat was accomplished by a series of very dexterous movements, and the booty safely
deposited upon dry land. The extraordinary rapacity of the Hawk fully accounts for its unsocial habits; it would, in fact,
be impossible for these birds to live together; no relation of life appears to excite any natural feeling, even parents,
devour their offspring with the most revolting cruelty—indeed, so great is their ferocity, that although provided with
abundance of other food, they cannot restrain their murderous propensities, if brought in contact with birds even of their
own species. Such of the feathered denizens of the forest as are sufficiently swift of wing to be able to elude the Gos
Hawk, pursue it fearlessly, and chase it with rude cries whenever it appears; Crows and Swallows are particularly
addicted to this most harassing mode of avenging the wrongs of their more helpless companions.
The eyrie of this species is large and shallow, built of green fir or pine branches, which are added to or renewed from
time to time; the bed for the young is lined with down stripped from the parent birds. Old and high trees are usually
preferred for building purposes, the nest being placed on a large branch near the main stem; year after year a pair of
Hawks will return to the same spot, at each visit making such repairs as the eyrie requires, and renewing the green
branches. The eggs, two to four in number, are large, long, and very wide towards the middle; the shell is thick, rough,
of a greenish-white colour, and either entirely unmarked, or spotted with yellow; the female alone sits, but both parents
guard the nest with jealous care, often attacking men, or even horses should they approach too near. The young grow
very quickly, and are so voracious that the eyrie often looks like a slaughter-house, the parents having as much to do as
they can manage in catering for their clamorous family, whose greed is so excessive that they will often fall upon and
destroy each other when too impatient to await a fresh supply of food. Many and various are the means employed to
clear the country of these destructive birds, but all attempts prove inadequate to cope with the extreme cunning and
sagacity which they display on the approach of danger. In some parts of Asia their worst qualities are the points on
which the favour of the native falconers is grounded, and by them these birds are prized as unrivalled for the purposes
of the chase; they even employ them in the pursuit of such large game as hares. When about to hunt large animals, the
legs of the Hawk are carefully covered with a kind of leather gaiters, to defend them when dragged through bushes and
brambles, as their intended victim endeavours to escape from its clutch; seldom, however, does it succeed, for the bird
holds firmly on with one foot, keeping the other raised to clear aside the branches, or get a firm grasp upon a bush, and
thus arrest the progress of its quarry when the proper moment arrives.

The SINGING HAWKS (Melierax) are an African group, differing somewhat in shape from their European relatives.
Their body is more slender, the beak less powerful, and the wings longer than in the races hitherto described; the tail is
rounded at its extremity; the tarsi are strong and high, and the feet provided with comparatively short claws.

THE TRUE SINGING HAWK.

The TRUE SINGING HAWK (Melierax musicus), as the largest member of this group is called, inhabits Southern Africa,
and is replaced in the central portions of that continent by another species (Melierax polygonus), closely resembling it
in appearance, though somewhat smaller. In the latter the plumage on the upper part of the body, throat, and upper
breast, is slate-coloured; the belly, wings, hose, and large wing-covers are white, striped with delicate grey zig-zag
markings. The quills are brownish black, the tail-feathers of a paler shade, the latter are tipped with white, and striped
three times with a crooked white line; the iris is of a beautiful brown, the beak dark blue, the cere and feet bright
orange. The length of this bird is about one foot seven inches, its breadth three feet two inches; the wing measures
eleven inches and two-thirds, the tail eight inches and one-third. The female is about one inch and a half longer and two
inches broader than her mate. The plumage of the young is brown above, and upon the belly and breast white striped
across with light brown; the sides of the head and a line over the breast are of the latter colour. The first-mentioned
species is similar in its colour and markings. Le Vaillant, who first described these remarkable Hawks, tells us that they
are numerous in Caffraria, where they usually frequent the widely scattered trees, and subsist principally upon hares,
partridges, quails, rats, mice, or similar fare. The nest is large, and contains four pure white eggs. Le Vaillant has given
the name of Singing Hawk to the species, from an extraordinary fact of which he assures us he had personal experience,
namely, that they are capable of pouring out a flow of song, and sometimes continue their vocal exercise for hours
together. For our own part we have never heard one of these birds sing, and therefore must abstain from either
depreciating or maintaining this statement; but similar species, carefully observed by ourselves, in the more northern
parts of Africa, were capable of nothing but a prolonged whistle or piping scream. In appearance alone do these
Hawks bear any resemblance to their European congeners; in their habits they are dull, extremely indolent, and entirely
incapable of the daring exploits that render other members of their race so formidable; it is by no means uncommon for
them to sit for hours together dozing upon a tree, or lazily scanning the surrounding country almost too idly even to note
the prey they might easily secure. When in the air their movements resemble in some respects those of our Hawk, but
are entirely without the precision and rapidity which render that bird so terrible an opponent. Whilst perched among the
branches their appearance is ungainly, as they squat motionless with head drawn in, staring fixedly at one particular
spot. According to our own experience, they devour toads, grasshoppers, and various kinds of insects in great
numbers; Hartmann tells us that they will also eat lizards. The prey is usually pounced upon as it goes down to the water
to drink, yet even then, so slow and apathetic is this bird in its behaviour, that an attempt to seize the victim often proves
abortive. We are entirely destitute of particulars as to the incubation of this species.

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THE SERPENT HAWK.

The SERPENT HAWK (Polyboroides typicus) is a very remarkable member of the Hawk family, inhabiting the same
parts of Africa as the bird last mentioned; a very similar species is also met with in Madagascar. The Serpent Hawk is
recognisable by the smallness of its head and body, bare cheeks, slender beak, and enormous wings; the tail is long,
broad, and slightly rounded; the tarsi high and thin, and the toes small. The plumage is dark greyish blue upon the upper
portion of the body, front of neck, and breast; the primary quills are black, the upper secondaries grey, with a black
spot near the tip; the tail-feathers are black tipped with white, and have a broad white streak across the middle. The
belly, hose, and tail-covers are white, delicately marked with black. The eye is brown, the beak black, the feet lemon
colour, the cere and bare patches round the eyes pale yellow. The male bird is one foot eleven inches and a half long,
and four feet four inches across the span of the wings; these latter are sixteen and the tail eleven inches in length; the
tarsus measures three inches and a quarter, and the middle toe not more than one and a half.
This species is met with throughout the woodland districts of Eastern Soudan, where it frequents such localities as are in
the immediate vicinity of water, as it there finds in abundance the reptiles on which it principally subsists. The manner in
which this Hawk obtains its prey is very remarkable, as it is enabled to draw its victims from their holes by the aid of a
most curious contrivance; the tarsus is so constructed as to allow the foot to be turned in all directions, backwards as
well as to the sides, and the claws being comparatively small, the leg can be introduced through a very narrow aperture;
it is then moved rapidly into every recess and cranny of the hole, to the inevitable discovery of its helpless occupant.
The Serpent Hawks rarely pass much time upon the wing, and, indeed, do little more than fly from one tree to another,
exhibiting in all their habits that sluggish and unsocial temperament common to most reptile-eating birds; they live for the
most part alone, and spend their time in perching lazily on a bough, or flitting from tree to tree. Verreaux tells us that
they will sometimes pursue small birds or quadrupeds.

The succeeding families of RAPTORIAL BIRDS are distinguished by the circumstance that, although they pursue and kill
living prey, they will likewise occasionally eat carrion; in order, however, to make the arrangement of this heterogeneous
multitude at all clear to the general reader, we must subdivide them into several different groups.

EAGLES.

THE EAGLES.

THE EAGLES (Aquilæ) are distinguishable by the following characteristics: their body is stoutly and compactly built, their
head is of moderate size and entirely covered with feathers, and the beak, which is straight to a considerable distance
from its base, terminates in a curve or hook; the upper mandible is without teeth, but is slightly waved at its sides; the
cere is bare, the tarsi are of moderate size, strong, and more or less covered with feathers, extending in some cases
down to the toes; these latter are very powerful, often of great length, and armed with large, much curved, and sharply
pointed talons. The wings of some species reach as far as the end of the tail, in others no farther than its root; in all they
are rounded at the tip, the fourth and fifth quills being longer than the rest; the tail is long, broad, and either rounded or

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straight at its extremity. The plumage consists of large and usually pointed feathers, rich in texture, often very soft, but
occasionally coarse and harsh. One of the distinguishing features in the plumage of the Eagle is that the feathers on the
back of the head and nape are either pointed or considerably prolonged. The eye is large and fiery, and the eyebrows
very distinctly marked, thus giving an expression of fierceness to the face.
A glance at different members of the Eagle tribe will at once convince us that they do not all belong to the same country
or climate. It is true that they are dispersed over the surface of the whole earth, but each species has its appointed
district; all, however, avoid the abodes of man, and make their nests in some unfrequented spot. Mountains, forests,
sea-coasts, or the banks of lakes or rivers have each their appointed forms, while some species roam at large over the
open plains of the countries in which they live. Such members of the family as inhabit the more northern portions of the
globe migrate as winter approaches, and pass their lives in sweeping from land to land, except at such times as they are
busied with the cares of incubation. In their habits all are unsocial, keeping company rarely even with individuals of their
own race, except during their winter journeyings, and suffering no intruder to approach the spot selected as a breeding-
place; so strong is this dislike to society that even when several Eagles are attracted by the same prey the
companionship is merely in appearance, each bird coming and going without any reference to the movements of the
rest. Notwithstanding this unwillingness to join company with others, even of their own species, they are much attached
to their mates, each pair living in close companionship throughout their whole lives, and frequently permitting smaller
birds to make their nests in close proximity, either regarding them as entirely beneath their notice, or, perhaps, feeling
that such despicable morsels are not worth the long and troublesome chase which their pursuit would necessitate. To
some members of the Eagle family the name of Hawk Eagles has been assigned, on account of their very decided
resemblance to the Hawk, not merely in appearance, but in disposition.
Though unable to cleave the air with the rapidity of the Falcon, the flight of an Eagle is extremely imposing, as it rises
with slow and majestic strokes of its large wings, steering its course by the aid of its tail, or hovers for minutes at a time
without any apparent effort; when descending to seize its prey its movements are somewhat more rapid, but are not to
be compared with the stoop of the Hawk. While upon the ground nothing can be more clumsy than the mode of
progression employed by these large birds; they hop, or rather jump, with a most peculiar step, at the same time helping
themselves along with their wings; far different is their appearance when they are seen perched with body erect upon
some tree, from whence they gaze upon the world beneath with a calm dignity worthy of the royalty not unfrequently
assigned to them. The sight of the Eagle is more highly developed than any other sense; it also hears well, and exhibits a
marked dislike to any sharp sound. Many wonderful tales have been circulated as to the power of appreciating odours
possessed by these birds, but for our own part we consider these accounts as much exaggerated. All the members of
the family are intelligent, prudent, in some cases cunning, and they have such an appreciation of their own strength as to
impart an air of nobility to their demeanour even towards man himself. When in pursuit, Eagles exhibit great fierceness,
and seem to enjoy the full excitement of the chase; even such large quadrupeds as foxes fall victims to their ferocity, and
the swiftest inhabitants of the air are not safe from their pursuit; instances are on record in which man himself has had to
combat the attacks of these bold and audacious birds.
The eyries built by the various species of Eagles differ but little in appearance; all are exceedingly large, broad, and very
shallow. They are formed of boughs, sometimes of considerable thickness, on these are placed smaller branches, and
the interior is then padded with twigs upon which the leaves have been left, in order to form a warm bed. These nests
are usually constructed upon a tree, or upon some rocky precipice. The breeding season varies according to the
climate; the eggs often but one, rarely three in number, are incubated by the female alone. Both parents, however, assist
in rearing...