(see) 
this group, a few strokes to gather impetus, then a sailing turn with 
outstretched wings. 
(22) ASTUR TRIVIRGATUS, Crested Goshawk, can be classed as a 
Darjeeling bird, though it is difficult to find, more so, at this eleva- 
tion, owing to its habits of frequenting forests or their near vicinity. 
At times they appear near the outskirts of the station, ready to 
drop down irom their perches on fowls, that have wandered away 
from jungle cover or other shelters where they resort. These 
Goshawks are generally seen hunting in pairs, so that it is with much 
difficulty, that a bird escapes the strokes of both these hawks, as 
they appear to play with much skill into each others hands (claws). 
I saw this frequently, when these hawks were hunting for marmots 
and pheasants. Female Goshawk is over 18 ins. in length ; legs and 
cere yellow ; irides bright yellow ; above, it is glossy dark brown; 
wings and tail have four dark bands; lower parts of the body 
plumage is white, with pale yellowish spots ; yellowish brown bars 
on the lower breast and below. 
(25) AccriPireR Vircatus, Besra Sparrow-hawk, is fairly common 
in Darjeeling in the cold weather, when it can occasionally be seen 
mixing with the larger Lapfores as they take their constitutional in 
mid air. It can usually be made out by its small size and longish 
tail. This sparrow-hawk is one of the well known short-winged 
hawks, it has been trained for hunting on account of its speed in 
striking, activity, and cleverness in the chase, especially when sent 
after partridges, quails and snipe. These jungle Sparrow-hawks, as 
they are called are more slender in form than the previous groups, 
they have longer tails ; wings rounded ; bill very short and curved, 
compressed, with a formidable looking festoon on the margin of the 
upper mandible ; 4th and 5th quills the longest ; tarsi long, scuta not 
prominent ; toes long; claws sharp and well curved ; irides bright 
yellow. 
I have a Besra Sparrow-hawk in front of me whilst I write; but 
it is a difficult bird to figure in a general sort of way, without going 
into a few details ; upper plumage is dark olive brown; head and 
neck blackish ; dark about the face ; tail grey with about 4 to 6 dark 
bands ; beneath, the plumage is white, with reddish brown bands. 
Young birds have broad oval yellowish brown patches on the breast 
and below. In size male is 11 ins. and female 14 ins. The latter has 
vertical dashes and roundish streaks of colour on the breast. 
Sup-FAMILY: AQUILIN.E ( Lagles) 
This well known family of Raptores, might be called the typical 
group of Birds of Prey. These birds are of large size and stout 
