BTHTIHH BIRDS' XESTS. 135 



are uniform g-reyisli-black. Chin and sides of neck 

 white ; cheeks black ; breast and belly yellowish- 

 white, streaked broadly with brownish-black ; thighs, 

 vent, and lower tail-coverts rusty red. Legs and 

 toes yellow ; claws black. 



The female resembles the male, but is larger, 

 and the sjDots on her breast are more conspicuous. 

 In young birds of both sexes the plumage on the 

 upper surface of the bod}^ is tinged with red, but 

 this gradually gives place to bluish-grey with age. 



Hit nation and Locality. — In high trees in woods 

 and forests. It is almost as local as the Night- 

 ingale, and has not been reported as nesting further 

 north than Yorkshire, except on one occasion in 

 Scotland. It is a somewhat rare nesting species, 

 but returns to a favourite haunt year after year. 



Materials. — Some good authorities say that it 

 does not build a nest of any kind, but simply adopts 

 the old one of a Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, 

 or that of some other Hawk ; whilst others say 

 that it builds a nest of sticks, moss, and hair. 



Egga. — Two to three, very rarely four, short and 

 oval in form. Yellowish, dingy or bluish-white in 

 ground colour, much suffused, mottled, and spotted 

 with reddish and yellowish-brown. The eggs are 

 similar in coloration and variety to those of the 

 Merlin and Kestrel, and as the nesting situations 

 are similar to those of the latter bird nothing short 

 of a sight of the parents can settle the point with 

 certainty. Size about 1*7 by 1'35 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



Bemarlxs. — Migratory, arriving in x\pril and 

 leaving in October. Notes : alarm, a shrill chattering. 

 Local and other names : none. Sits lightly, according 

 to Mr. Dixon, and fairly closely, according to Mr. 

 Seebohm, and is demonstrative when intruded upon. ^ 



