NORTHERN ZOOLOGY.
cere is scarcely a continuation of the same arc, being more depressed; but it is too short to
give a decidedly elliptical form, to the curve of the bill.: -There is a conspicuous angular tooth
on the cutting margin of the mandible near the tip, and posterior to it the margin is slightly
waved. This peculiarity, seen in no other genus, constitutes the typical perfection of the whole
family. The nostrils, small and perfectly round, open directly inwards, and have a central
column. The anterior margin of the cere runs backwards on the side of the bill, towards the
angle of the mouth, considerably past the nostrils, before it approaches the cutting margin
of the mandible. The short hairlike feathers which clothe it laterally do not conceal the
nostrils.
ACCIP1TER (ASTUR) PALUMBARIUS0
The bill of the Goshawk is more compressed and flatter on the sides than that of the Merlin
or true Falcons. The curve of its ridge, from the cere to the tip, is somewhat less than a
quadrant of a circle of three-quarters of an inch radius; The length of the cere is proportion-
ably greater than in the Merlin, and it is not so much arched ; in consequence of which, the
whole ridge has a more elliptical curve. The cutting margin of the mandible has an obtuse
lobe opposite the nostrils, but wants the acute tooth of the true Falcons, near the point of the
bill. The lower mandible has entire margins, and is rounded at its tip—not truncated, as in
the Falcons. The nostrils are large, nearly round, have iio central column, open obliquely
forwards close to the margin of the cere, and are mostly covered by the wiry feathers of the
BUTEO VULGARIS.
In the Common Buzzard the bill has a more lengthened form and is equally compressed
towards its tip, as in the Goshawk; but it is more swelled out at the base, where it is covered
by cere. It is weaker; the depth from the ridge to the cutting margin at the nostrils being
considerably less than in the latter bird ; in consequence of which, the hooked point is longer.
’There is a conspicuous obtuse lobe, on the cutting margin anterior to the nostrils. The lower
mandible is worn on its margin opposite this lobe, and is obliquely truncated at.its end. The
nostrils ' smaller and with more membranous margins than in the Goshawk, open obliquely
downwards, and have noi central pillar. The anterior margin of the cere runs down to the
margin of the mandible opposite the nostrils.
BUTEO LAGOPUS.
The curve of the ridge of the bill of the Rough-legged Falcon is equal to that of the Goshawk,
and its cere is still shorter; but the depth of the upper mandible at the nostrils is considerably
less, and it is destitute of a marginallobe; the rictus being almost quite straight from
the angle of the mouth to the sudden curve of the hooked tip. The nostrils are large, roundish,
and open obliquely forwards close to the margin of the cere. They are partially covered by
black hairs, proceeding from among the close white down which clothes the space between th
orbit and nostrils. The crown of the head is more convex than that of the Goshawk or
Common Buzzard.