JER FALCON. 229 



is a large nest built of sticks and a few roots. Hewit- 

 son compares it to the nest of the Ring Dove, but it 

 is always placed near the trunk of the tree and not at 

 the end of the branches. 



Eggs may be found in May ; they are three to six 

 in number (eight have been found), and very beautiful. 

 The ground colour is a pale blue, blotched with rich 

 reddish brown. Like all the eggs in this class they 

 undergo great variation. 



If the eggs are removed, the Sparrow Hawk will 

 continue laying ; fifteen eggs are mentioned in the 

 Zoologist B.S having been obtained in this way. 



The upper plumage of the Sparrow Hawk is a dark 

 slate blue ; the under parts are white tinged with a 

 reddish tint and barred with reddish brown. 



On account of its courage and quickness of flight 

 this bird was formerly trained for hawking. It is 

 stated to have become very tame when brought up 

 from the nest and, according to Stanley, to have 

 associated with tame Pigeons, roosting in their cot 

 at night, and never attempting to interfere with their 

 young. 



Other rarer birds of the Family Falconidce : — 



EGYPTIAN VULTURE. 



VULTUR PERCNOPTERUS. 

 Genus Vultur. 

 Has been twice captured in England. 



JER FALCON. 



FALCO GYRFALCO. 

 Genus Gyrfalco. 

 A bird of very occasional occurrence. 



