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.