ACCIPITER. HAWK. 339 



tine rather short and of moderate width ; coeca very small ; 

 rectum with a globular dilatation. 



Nostrils ovato-oblonw, lateral. Eyes rather large ; eyelids 

 ciliated ; the lachrymal ridge prominent. Aperture of the ear 

 roundish, rather large. Legs of moderate length, slender ; 

 tarsus rather long or of moderate length, generally slender, 

 anteriorly scutellate, laterally scaly, posteriorly with large scales 

 or scutella ; toes slender, covered above with numerous short 

 scutella, beneath tuberculate, there being a long fleshy knob 

 on the last joint of each, and one at the next joint of the outer 

 two ; the third and fourth toes connected by a basal web, the 

 first and second nearly equal, the third much longer. Claws 

 long, well-curved, tapering, compressed, convex above, slightly 

 concave beneath, acuminate. 



Plumage compact above, blended beneath. Cere with bristle- 

 tipped plumelets at the sides ; space between the bill and 

 eye covered with radiating slender feathers of the same nature. 

 Feathers of the head rather short, of the neck moderate, of 

 the sides and outer part of the tibia elongated, all more or less 

 oblong and rounded. Wings long, much rounded, with twenty- 

 three quills ; primaries moderately strong, the first short, the 

 fourth and fifth longest, the outer five with the inner web 

 somewhat abruptly cut out. Tail very long, straight, even or 

 slightly rounded, of twelve rather broad rounded feathers. 



The species of this genus are distinguished by their elegant, 

 generally slender form, the prominent festoon of the upper 

 mandible, their comparatively short rounded wings, lengthened 

 tail, and slender tarsi and toes, of which the third is very long 

 in the smaller species. They fly low when searching for food, 

 advancing with a rapid gliding and stealthy flight, dart upon 

 their prey on the ground, or in the air, or perched on trees or 

 bushes, between the branches of which they glide on occasion 

 even at full speed. They nestle in trees, or on rocks, forming 

 a rude nest of twigs and some soft materials, or appropriate the 

 nest of a Crow or other bird, and lay from three to five large, 

 broadly elliptical, spotted eggs. Species occur in all parts of 

 the globe. Two are met with in IJritain, one very common, 

 the other extremelv rare. 



