in ornithology, a genus belonging to the order of accipitres, the characters of which are these: Plate CIV. The beak is crooked, and furnished with wax at the base; the head is thick-set with feathers, and the tongue is cloven. The principal species are, viz.
1. The coronatus, or crowned eagle of Edwards, with ash-coloured wax; the legs are covered with white downy feathers, interspersed with black spots; the breast is reddish; and there are black belts on the sides. It is a native of Guinea.
2. The melanectus, or black eagle of Ray, has yellowish-wax on the beak; the legs are half covered with feathers; and the body is ash-coloured and streaked with yellow. It is a native of Europe.
3. The leucocephalus, or white-headed eagle of Cateby, is ash-coloured, with the head and tail white; the iris of the eye is white, over which is a prominence covered with a yellow skin; the bill and the feet or wax are yellow, as are likewise the legs and feet; and the talons are black. Though it is an eagle of small size, it weighs nine pounds, is strong and full of spirit, preying on lambs, pigs, and fawns. They always make their nests near the sea, or great rivers, and usually upon old, dead pine or cypres trees, continuing to build annually on the same tree till it falls. Though he is so formidable to all birds, yet he suffers them to build near his royal nest without molestation; particularly the fishing hawk, herons, &c. which all build on high trees, and in some places are so near one another, that they appear like a rookery. It is a native both of Europe and America.
4. The olifragus, or sea-eagle, with yellow wax, and half-feathered legs; it is about the size of a peacock; sea-eagles the feathers are white at the base, iron-coloured in the middle, and black at the points; and the legs are yellow. It is found in several parts of Great Britain and Ireland. Mr Willoughby tells us, that there was an aerie of them in Whinfield Park, Westmoreland; and the bird soaring in the air with a cat in its talons, (which Barlow drew from the very fact which he saw in Scotland), is of this kind. The cat's resistance brought both animals to the ground, when Barlow took them up; and afterwards caused the event to be engraved in the 36th plate of his Collection of Prints. Turner says, that in his days this bird was too well known in England; for it made horrible destruction among the fish. All authors indeed agree, that it feeds principally on fish; which it takes, as they are swimming. ming near the surface, by darting itself down upon them; not by diving or swimming, as some authors have pretended, who furnish it for that purpose with one webbed foot to swim with, and another divided foot to take its prey with. Martin, speaking of what he calls the great eagles of the Western Isles, says, that they fasten their talons in the back of the fish, commonly of salmon, which are often above the water, or very near the surface. Those of Greenland will even take a young seal out of the water.—Turner, above-mentioned, says, that the fishermen were fond of anointing their baits with the fat of this bird, imagining that it had a peculiar alluring quality; they were even superstitious enough to believe, that whenever the sea-eagle hovered over a piece of water, the fish (as if charmed) would rise to the surface with their bellies upwards; and in that manner present themselves to him. It also preys on water-fowl.
5. The chrysaetos, or golden eagle, weighs about 12 pounds, and is in length about three feet, the wings, when extended, measuring about seven feet four inches. The sight and sense of smelling are very acute: the head and neck are clothed with narrow, sharp-pointed feathers, of a deep brown colour bordered with tawny; the hind part of the head in particular is of a bright rust-colour.—These birds are very destructive to fawns, lambs, kids, and all kinds of game; particularly in the breeding season, when they bring a vast quantity of prey to their young. Smith, in his history of Kerry, relates, that a poor man in that country got a comfortable subsistence for his family, during a summer of famine, out of an eagle's nest, by robbing the eaglets of the food the old ones brought; whole attendance he protracted beyond the natural time, by clipping the wings and retarding the flight of the former. It is very unsafe to leave infants in places where eagles frequent; there being instances in Scotland of two being carried off by them; but, fortunately, the theft was discovered in time, and the children were restored unhurt out of the eagles' nests. In order to extirpate these pernicious birds, there is a law in the Orkney isles, which entitles every person that kills an eagle to a hen out of every house in the parish where it was killed.—Eagles seem to give the preference to the carcases of dogs and cats. People who make it their business to kill these birds, lay one or other of these carcases by way of bait; and then conceal themselves within gunshot. They fire the instant the eagle alights; for she, that moment, looks about before she begins to prey. Yet, quick as her sight may be, her sense of hearing seems still more exquisite. If hooded crows or ravens happen to be nearer the carrion, and resort to it first, and give a single croak, the eagle is certain of instantly repairing to the spot.
Eagles are remarkable for their longevity, and for their power of sustaining a long abstinence from food. Mr Keyser relates, that an eagle died at Vienna after a confinement of 104 years. This pre-eminent length of days probably gave occasion to the saying of the Philo-sophist, "Thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." One of this species, which was nine years in the possession of Owen Holland, Esq. of Conway, lived 32 years with the gentleman who made him a present of it; but what its age was when the latter received it from Ireland, is unknown. The same bird also furnishes us with a proof of the truth of the other remark; having once, through the neglect of servants, endured hunger for 21 days without any sustenance whatever.
6. The fulvus, is common to the northern parts of Europe and America; that figured by Mr Edwards differing from our species only in having some white spots on the breast. It is frequent in Scotland; where Black eagle, it is called the black eagle, from the dark colour of its plumage. It is very destructive to deer, which it will seize between the horns; and, by incessantly beating it about the eyes with its wings, soon makes a prey of the harried animal. The eagles in the isle of Rum have nearly extirpated the flags that used to abound there. This species generally builds in clefts of rocks near the deer-forests; and makes great havoc not only among them, but also among the white hares and ptarmigans. It is of equal size with the preceding, and is easily distinguished from all the other species by a band of white on the upper part of the tail; the end only being of a deep brown. The legs are feathered to the feet, the toes yellow, the claws black. Mr Willoughby gives the following curious account of the nest of this species. "In the year of our Lord 1668, in the woodlands near the river Darwent, in the peak of Derbyshire, was found an eagle's nest made of great sticks, resting one end in the edge of a rock, the other on two birch trees; upon which was a layer of rushes, and over them a layer of heath, and upon the heath rushes again: upon which lay one young one and an addle egg; and by them a lamb, a hare, and three heath-pouls. The nest was about two yards square, and had no hollow in it. The young eagle was black as a hobby, of the shape of a goshawk, almost of the weight of a goose, rough-footed, or feathered down to the foot: having a white ring about the tail."
7. The rusticus, with a yellow wax, yellow ring round the eyes, and yellow legs; the body is ash-coloured undulated with white, and a white ring round the neck: it is a native of Sweden.
8. The barbarus, with yellow wax, and yellow legs; the body is bluish, and spotted with brown: it is a native of Barbary.
9. The ceruleofuscus, with yellow wax, a yellow ring round the eyes, and the feet yellow underneath; the back is of a blackish blue colour; and the temples are surrounded with a white line. This is the smallest bird of the genus, and is a native of Asia.
10. The cyanescus, or hen-harrier, with white wax, hen-har-yellow legs, a whitish blue body, and a white ring round the eyes and throat. It is the blue hawk of Edwards, and is a native of Europe and Africa. These birds are extremely destructive to young poultry and to the feathered game: they fly near the ground, skimming the surface in search of prey. They breed on the ground, and never are observed to settle on trees.
11. The albiulla, or cinereous eagle, is inferior in size to the golden eagle; the head and neck are of a pale ash-colour; the body and wings cinereous, clouded with brown; the quill-feathers very dark; the tail white; the legs feathered but little below the knees, and of a very bright yellow. The male is of a darker colour than the female. The bill of this species is rather straighter than is usual in the eagle; which seems seems to have induced Linnæus to place it among the vultures. But it can have no title to be ranked with that genus; for the pygargus is wholly feathered; whereas the characteristic mark of the vulture is, that the head and neck are either quite bare, or only covered with down. It inhabits Scotland and the Orkneys; and feeds on fish, as well as on land animals.
12. The milvus, or kite, is a native of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Bellonius relates, that, about the end of April, incredible numbers of them are seen flying over the Black Sea into Asia. This species generally breeds in large forests, or woody mountainous countries. Its nest is composed of sticks, lined with several old materials, such as rags, bits of flannel, rope, and paper. It lays two, or at most three, eggs; which, like those of other birds of prey, are much rounded and blunt at the smaller end. They are white, spotted with dirty yellow. Its motion in the air distinguishes it from all other birds, being so smooth and even that it is scarce perceptible. Sometimes it will remain quite motionless for a considerable space; at others, glide through the sky, without the least apparent action of its wings; from thence deriving the old name of glaad or glede, from the Saxon glida. The tail of this bird, as being forked, is sufficient to distinguish it from most other birds of prey. The kites vary in their colours. Mr Pennant mentions a beautiful variety shot in Lincolnshire, that was entirely of a tawny colour. Some have supposed them to be birds of passage, but in Britain they certainly continue the whole year. Lord Bacon observes, that when kites fly high, it portends fair and dry weather.
13. The gentilis, or gentil falcon, inhabits the north of Scotland, and was in high esteem as a bold and spirited bird in the days of falconry. It makes its nest in rocks; it is larger than the goshawk; the head of a light rust colour, with oblong black spots; the whole under-side from chin to tail white, tinged with yellow; the back of a brown colour; the tail barred with four or five bars of black, and as many of ash-colour; the very tips of all the tail-feathers white.
14. The subbuteo, or hobby, was used like the keftrel in the humbler kind of falconry; particularly in what was called daring of larks: the hawk was cast off; the larks, aware of their most inveterate enemy, were fixed to the ground for fear; by which means they became a ready prey to the fowler by drawing a net over them. The back of this bird is brown; the nape of the neck white; and the belly pale, with oblong brown spots. It is a bird of passage; but breeds in Britain, and migrates in October.
15. The buteo, or buzzard, is the most common of the hawk kind in England. It breeds in large woods; and usually builds on an old crow's nest, which it enlarges, and lines with wool and other soft materials. It lays two or three eggs, which are sometimes perfectly white, sometimes spotted with yellow. The cock buzzard will hatch and bring up the young if the hen is killed. The young keep company with the old ones for some little time after they quit the nest; which is not usual with other birds of prey, who always drive away their brood as soon as they can fly. This species is very sluggish and inactive, and is much less in motion than other hawks; remaining perched on the same bough for the greatest part of the day, and is found at most times near the same place. It feeds on birds, rabbits, moles, and mice; it will also eat frogs, earthworms, and insects. This bird is subject to some variety in its colours. Some have their breast and belly of a brown colour, and are only marked across the crown with a large white crescent; but usually the breast is of a yellowish white, spotted with oblong rust-coloured spots, pointing downwards: the back of the head, neck, and coverts of the wings, are of a deep brown, edged with a pale rust-colour; the middle of the back covered only with a thick white down. The tail is barred with black, and ash-colour, and sometimes with ferruginous.
16. The tinamuculus, or keftrel, breeds in the hollows of trees, in the holes of high rocks, towers, and ruined buildings. It feeds on field-mice, small birds, and insects; which it will discover at a great distance. This is the hawk that we so frequently see in the air fixed in one place; and, as it were, fanning it with its wings; at which time it is watching for its prey. When falconry was in use in Great Britain, this bird was trained for catching small birds and young partridges. It is easily distinguished from all other hawks by its colours. The crown of the head and the greater part of the tail are of a fine light grey; the back and coverts of the wings of a brick-red, elegantly spotted with black; the whole under-side of the bird, of a pale rust-colour spotted with black.
17. The infilator, with yellowish wax and legs; the body is of a brownish white colour; and the covers of the eyes are brown. He has a fleshy lobe between hawk, the nostrils; which, when angry or terrified, he inflates till his head becomes as big as his whole body. He is a native of Surinam.
18. The cachinnans, or laughing hawk, has yellowish legs and wax, and white eye-brows; the body is variegated with brown and white; and it has a black ring round the top of the head. It makes a laughing kind of noise when it observes any person, and is a native of America.
19. The columbarius, or pigeon-hawk of Catesby, weighs about six ounces. The bill is black at the hawk-point, and whitish at the base; the iris of the eye is yellow; the base of the upper mandible is covered with a yellow cere or wax; all the upper part of the body, wings, and tail, are brown. The interior vanes of the quill-feathers have large red spots. The tail is marked with large regular transverse white lines; the throat, breast, and belly, are white, mixed with brown; the small feathers that cover the thighs reach within half an inch of the feet, and are white, with a tincture of red, beset with long spots of brown; the legs and feet are yellow. It is a very swift and bold hawk, preying on pigeons, young turkeys, &c., and is a native of Carolina.
20. The velpitinus, is about the size of a pigeon; the body is of a blueish brown colour; and the bill is yellow, and brown at the point. It is a native of Ingria, and flies both in the day and in the night.
21. The furcatus, or swallow-tailed hawk, weighs about 14 ounces; the bill is black; the eyes are large and black, with a red iris; the head, neck, breast, and belly, are white; the upper part of the back and wings a dark purple; but more dusky towards the lower parts. parts, with a tincture of green. The wings are long in proportion to the body, and, when extended, measure four feet. The tail is dark purple mixed with green, and remarkably forked. Like swallows, they continue long on the wing; catching, as they fly, beetles, flies, and other insects. They are said to prey upon lizards and serpents, and are found in America.
22. Haligetus, the fishing-hawk of Cateby, or the osprey, weighs three pounds and a quarter; it measures, from one end of the wing to the other, five feet and a half. The bill is black, with a blue cere or wax; the iris of the eye is yellow, and the crown of the head brown, with a mixture of white feathers; from each eye, backwards, runs a brown stripe; the back, wings, and tail, are of a dark brown; the throat, neck, and belly, white; the legs and feet are rough and scaly, and of a pale blue colour; the talons are black, and nearly of an equal size; the feathers of the thighs are short, and adhere close to them, contrary to others of the hawk kind, which nature seems to have designed for the more easily penetrating the water. Their manner of fishing is, after hovering a while over the water, to precipitate into it with prodigious swiftness; where they remain for some minutes, and seldom rise without a fish. The white-headed eagle, who is generally on the watch, no sooner spies him with his fish, than he flies furiously upon him; the hawk immediately mounts, and screams out; but the eagle always soars above him, and compels him to let the fish fall; the eagle instantly darts down upon the fish, and seldom fails to catch it before it reaches the water. It is remarkable, that, whenever the hawk catches a fish, he calls out, as if it were to give warning to his enemy the eagle, who always obeys the call, if within hearing. The lower parts of the rivers and creeks near the sea in America, abound with these eagles and hawks, where such diverting contests are often seen.
23. The gyrfalcon, or gyrfalcon, with blue wax on the beak, yellow legs, a brown body marked with ash-coloured streaks underneath, and the sides of the tail white. It is the gyrfalcon of all the ornithologists except Linnaeus, whose bird is unknown to the rest. It is a native of Europe; and feeds upon cranes, pigeons, &c.
24. The aviporus, with black wax, yellow legs, half naked, the head of an ash colour, and having an ash-coloured stripe on the tail which is white at the end. It is the honey-buzzard of Ray, and had its name from the combs of wasps being found in its nest. It is a native of Europe, and feeds on mice, lizards, frogs, bees, &c. It runs very swiftly, like a hen.
25. The aruginosus, or moor-buzzard, with greenish wax, a greyish body, the top of the head, nape of the neck, and legs, yellowish; is a native of Europe, and frequents moors, marshy places, and heaths; it never soars like other hawks; but commonly sits on the ground, or on small bushes. It makes its nest in the midst of a tuft of grass or rushes. It is a very fierce and voracious bird; and is a great destroyer of rabbits, young wild-ducks, and other water-fowl. It preys, like the osprey, on fish.
26. The palumbarius, with black wax edged with yellow; yellow legs, a brown body, and the prime feathers of the tail marked with pale streaks, and the eye-brows white. It is the gothawk of Ray; and was formerly in high esteem among falconers, being flown at cranes, geese, pheasants, and partridges. It breeds in Scotland, and builds its nest in trees; is very destructive to game, and dashes thro' the woods after its quarry with vast impetuosity; but if it cannot catch the object of its pursuit almost immediately, desists, and perches on a bough till some new game presents itself.
27. The nisus, or sparrow-hawk, with green wax, yellow legs, a white belly undulated with grey, and the tail marked with blackish belts. This is the most Sparrow-pernicious hawk we have; and makes great havoc among pigeons as well as partridges. It builds in hollow trees, in old nests of crows, large ruins, and high rocks: it lays four white eggs, encircled near the blunter end with red specks.
28. The minutus, with white wax, yellow legs, and the body white underneath. It is the least hawk of Brissotius, being about the size of a thrush; and is found on the island Melita.