98 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



inches ; but both sexes vary in the most remarkable 

 manner, both as regards size and plumage. 



HoBBV.— Head, dark slate colour, white line over eye, 



black under; 

 throat whitish, 

 and remaining 

 lower ])arts buff, 

 or light chest- 

 nut, spotted 

 with black ; bill 

 bluish black ; 

 cere and legs and 

 feet yellow. 

 Female head 

 feathers edged 

 with brown. 

 1 ler length is 

 about 14 inches ; 

 that of the male 

 12\ to 13. 



Meulix. — Tiiis 

 small hawk is a 

 winter visitor to 

 Britain, or the 

 most part, though it has occasionally nesteil. Upper 

 surface slate colour, with brownish black quills; tail 

 spotted and broadly tipped with black ; cere and legs and 

 feet yellow ; bill bluisii black. The female is larger than 

 the male, but both vary in size. He measures about 12^ 

 inches ; she 13 or 14. 



Kestrel. — A very beautiful hawk. The head, neck, and 

 tail are slate blue ; the back and wing coverts ruddy chest- 

 nut, the latter spotted with black ; the tail near its free 

 end, which is white, is broa'Uy barred with black; and the 



Fk;. :U. — 77i( J'eregrine Falcon. 



