128 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



lining the slight hollow chosen for the reception 

 of the eggs. 



Eggs. — Four to six. Very j)ale bluish-white, said 

 to be sometimes marked with a few spots of pale 

 reddish-brown. Average size about 1*65 by I'-i in. 



Time. — May. 



Bemarls. — Migratory, arriving in April and 

 leaving in October. Notes : something like those 

 of the Kestrel, but feebler and more querulous, 

 according to Mr. Saunders. Local and other 

 name : Ash-coloured Harrier. Sits lightly. 



HAWK, SPARROW. Hee Spaeeow Hawk. 



HAWFINCH. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 seven inches. Bill of medium length, nearly conical, 

 very thick at the base, and of a dusky blue colour. 

 Irides grey. Crown and sides of head dull yellow- 

 ish or orange brown ; back and sides of neck ash 

 colour. Back, smaller wing-coverts, and scapulars 

 chestnut-brown. Some of the middle wing-coverts 

 are white ; wing-quills black, glossed with blue ; 

 some of them are of curious appearance, suggesting 

 that they have been clipped at the tips so as to 

 form battleaxes or billhooks. Eump and upper 

 tail-coverts light orange-brown ; tail-quills black, 

 the outer ones being tipped and to some extent 

 edged with white ; middle greyish-brown, tipped 

 with white. The feathers round the base of the 

 beak, eyes, and on the throat are black ; breast 

 and belly pale rust colour ; vent and under tail- 

 coverts dull white. Legs, toes, and claws pale 

 brown. 



