GOSS HAWK. 235 



divided), on the fourth ten. The claws are strong, 

 considerably compressed, and very acute. 



The cere is bare above, but on the sides covered 

 with bristly feathers, like tJiose of the loral space, all 

 being very slightly barbed at the base. The plumage 

 of the upper parts is soft but compact, of the lower 

 blended. The feathers are broad and rounded ; those 

 of the head short, of the outer part of the tibia elon- 

 gated. The wings are of moderate length ; the pri- 

 mary quills strong, tapering, but rounded ; the first five 

 sinuate on the inner web ; the third, fourth, fifth and 

 sixth, on the outer ; the fourth longest, the fifth longer 

 than the third, the second shorter than the sixth, the 

 first equal to the ninth. The secondary quills, thirteen 

 in number, are broad, abrupt, rounded, with a small 

 sinus exterior to the acumen. The tail is long, ample, 

 rounded, of twelve rounded but acuminate feathers. 



The bill is light blue at the base, bluish-black to- 

 wards the end ; the cere greenish-yellow. The irides 

 reddish-orange, the bare parts of the eyelids yellowish- 

 green. The feet are yellow ; the claws black. 



The general colour of the upper parts is dark bluish- 

 grey tinged with brown ; the top of the head and the 

 cheeks brownish-black ; over the eye is a broad white 

 line, spotted with black ; the feathers of the nape white, 

 tipped with brownish-black, the white appearing only 

 when the feathers are raised. The alula, primary co- 

 verts and quills, are hair-brown, with reddish-brown 

 shafts, the primaries barred with darker brown, and 

 the inner margins of all whitish, especially towards the 

 base. The tail is brownish-grey, with five broad bands 

 of brownish-black, the terminal dark band much larger, 



