Russia north of the Caucasus. 313 



parts of the country, but is very rare near its northern 

 breeding-limit and in Southern Russia. 



It is resident in every part of its breeding-range, with the 

 exception of the extreme north, where it is partially migra- 

 tory. In North-east Russia, from the Government of Kos- 

 troma to the Ural Mountains, and probably more east, 

 amongst the typical specimens of the Goshawk are found 

 birds with a more or less developed white colour. Some 

 specimens of this variety are all over of a very light colour, 

 al most white ; others, being generally of the normal grey, have 

 large white spots on different parts of their plumage. This 

 albinoid variety is probably produced by the difference of 

 climate of North-eastern Russia in comparison with that of 

 Western Europe ; and I think these more or less white speci- 

 mens show us that the same relation exists between Astur 

 palumbarius and Astu7' candidissimus as between Poecile pa- 

 lustris and Poecile kamtschatkensis, Picus major and Picus 

 major kamtschatkensis, Picus minor and Picus minor kamt- 

 schatkensis, &c. 



Astur brevipes. 



The breeding-range of the Levant Sparrow-Hawk in Russia 

 appears to be very little known. 



On the authority of Mr. Karelin it is rare in the country 

 about the Ural river ; and Mr. Henke tells us that it is 

 occasionally found breeding in the poplars, in the vineyards 

 near Astrakhan. According to Mr. Severtzov it breeds and 

 is a partial resident in the Government of Voronesh. I think 

 I have seen the Levant Sparrow-Hawk several times in the 

 Crimea, on the south coast, in July and August of 1882 ; but 

 as it was not obtained, it was impossible to identify the bird. 



According to Mr. Severtzov it is found during the autumn 

 migration near the mouth of the Ural river. 



ACCIPITER NISUS. 



Like the Goshawk, the Sparrow-Hawk is distributed 

 throughout the whole wooded country of Russia, but is a 

 more regular visitor than that bird. The northern examples 

 do not pass the winter in their breeding-range and regularly 



SER. V. VOL. II. 2 a 



