566 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
a long black stripe down the centre and one on each side on the 
border of the gray cheek; breast rufous brown with white 
margins, which vary in width ; abdomen and thighs barred 
chocolate-brown and white, the bars becoming narrower on the 
thighs ; under tail coverts white ; wing lining whitish with 
brown patches. 
Young birds are brown above with pale edges to the feathers 
and buff bases which show on the nape and hind-neck ; under 
parts whitish-buff with traces of black stripes on the throat, 
some deep rusty spots on the flanks and abdomen and some 
brown bars on the thighs. 
Bill bluish-brown at the base, black at the tip ; cere, eyelids, 
and gape of bill greenish-yellow ; iris golden-yellow ; legs and 
feet pale yellow. 
Females: length about 15°5; wing 8; tail 7; tarsus 
2°25; mid-toe without claw 1:25; bill from gape 1-1. 
Males are smaller: length about 14; wing 7°5. 
Distribution._-Not very common, but fairly widely distri- 
bated in the forests of the low-country and up to about 3,500 
feet in the hills. It is found in similar country throughout 
India, Burma, and South-eastern Asia, including the islands 
from the Malay Archipelago to the Philippines. Himalayan 
birds are much larger than our Ceylon form. 
Habits, &c.—Entirely a forest bird, generally seen in tall 
trees. The cry is a shrill note of one syllable. It feeds 
chiefly on lizards, but also on small birds. 
The breeding season in Ceylon is probably during the south- 
west monsoon. The nest is rather like that of the preceding 
species, and is placed in a high tree. The two eggs are pale 
ereenish-white, and measure about 2 by 1:4. 
ACCTIPITER VIRGATUS (Blanford, Vol. III., p. 404 ; - 
Legge, p. 26). 
The Besra Sparrow Hawk. 
Description.—Adult male: Head, hind-neck, back, and 
wings very dark ash colour, deepest on the head ; the back 
often tinged with brown ; the feathers on the nape and the 
seapulars white at the base ; wing quills brownish-gray above, 
