3(J2 



ACCIPITER NISUS. 



tliif,4is bcii-red with dusky on a white ground ; tail with five 

 bands and a terminal light brown band, its lower surface dull 

 white. It differs from the smaller species — 1st, In being larger ; 

 the tail an inch and a half longer ; 2dly, In having the eggs 

 larger, more rounded, greyish-white, and only dotted with 

 brown at large intervals ; 8dly, In the male and the female be- 

 ing almost precisely similar ; 4thly, In the males having no 

 reddish-brown on the belly or thighs. On this subject I would 

 off^er a few remarks. Young males of the common Sparrow 

 Hawk often have no red on the lower parts, and in this state 

 are very similar to old females ; individuals of either sex vary 

 as much as to render the tail of one two inches longer than 

 that of another individual of the same sex. As to the eggs, 

 one finds in the same nest a large egg and one considerably 

 smaller, a blotched egg, an egg merely dotted, and an egg al- 

 most destitute of markings. The colouring as above given 

 differs in nothing from that of many common Sparrow Hawks, 

 excepting in the white spots on the head, and the different 

 number of bands on the tail, both of which circumstances may 

 be incorrectly stated. Finally, however, it is very possible that 

 two species may be confounded under the same name. 



