19 



Much darker below than M. c. metabates, which 

 has white bars rather broader than dark bars, 

 reverse being case in this species. 

 58. Melierax mechoivi Cab., J.f .0., 1882, p. 229. 

 Angola. Goshawk. 



Size small (length 11.5-13.6; wing 7.1-8.3); 

 above and throat ashy grey ; rump blackish, 

 upper tail-coverts white ; quills and tail brown 

 banded with black ; below white barred with 

 ashy grey. 

 59. Melierax gabar (Daud.), Traite, ii., p. 89 

 (1800). 

 Red-faced Goshawk. 



Angola, 

 Damara- 

 land to 

 Mashonaland, 

 Nyasaland. 



S. Africa, 

 E.&N.E. 

 Africa. 



Size similar ; plumage black ; quills and tail 

 banded as in M. gabar. Feet cinnabar red 

 (orange in last-named). [Disputed species.] 

 5l'a. Melierax niger (Vieill.), Enc. Meth., iii.,p. 1269 

 (1823). 

 African Black Goshawk. 



S. and E 

 Africa. 



Gen. XXIV. ASTUR Lacep. (1801). 



Bill short, cutting edge of upper mandible with a 

 festoon ; nostrils oval, with no bony tubercle ; toes 

 moderate, middle one somewhat longest, outer and 

 inner nearly equal. 



A. 



60. 



Key to Natural Groups and Species (Adults). 



With conspicuous line of white on each side of 

 crown, from above hinder ear-coverts ; crown 

 blackish ; above ashy brown ; below white 

 barred with greyish brown ; tail with 4 dark 

 bands ; length, ^, 19-20.5 ; 2, 23-24 in. 

 Astur gentilis ge^itilis, Limi, S.N., i., p. 89 

 (1758). 

 Common Goshawk. 



60a. 



Europe and 



Siberia ; in 



winter to N. 



Africa and 



Himalayas. 



Smaller and darker race. 

 Astur gentilis arrigonii Kleinsch. 

 xi., pp. 152-3 (1903). 

 Sardinian Goshawk. 



Orn. Mb., Sardinia. 



