Hawk

(hauk.) [Icel. haukr.] (Zool.) A term often applied to almost all the Falconidæ, except the largest eagles, but also used in a more restricted sense to designate a section of the family reckoned among the ignoble birds of prey, having the wings so short as not to extend to the extremity of the tail, and the bill short and curving from the base. In many of their characters and habits, however, they make a very near approach to the true falcons. The species are numerous, are arranged in several genera, and are distributed over the world. See FALCON IDE. [s. 443]