i88 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



are uniform greyish-black. Chin and sides of neck 

 white ; cheeks black ; breast and belly yellowish- 

 white, streaked broadly with brownish - black ; 

 thighs, vent, and lower tail-coverts rusty-red. Legs 

 and toes yellow ; claws black. 



The female resembles the male, but is larger, 

 and the spots on her breast are more conspicuous. 

 In young birds of both sexes the plumage on the 

 upper surface of the body is tinged with red, but 

 this gradually gives place to bluish-grey with age. 



Situation and Locality. In high trees in woods 

 and forests. It is almost as local as the Nightingale, 

 and has not been reported as nesting farther north 

 than Yorkshire, except on one occasion in Scotland. 

 I have seen it breeding in Wiltshire, and it also 

 breeds in Surrey. It is a rare nesting species, but 

 returns to a favourite haunt year after year. 



Materials. Some high authorities say that it 

 does not build a nest of any kind, but simply adopts 

 the old one of a Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, 

 or that of some other Hawk ; whilst others say 

 that it builds a nest of sticks, moss, and hair. From 

 my own limited observation, and inquiries made of 

 those who have had opportunities of forming an 

 opinion, I think the former are right. 



Eggs. Two or three, very rarely four, short and 

 oval in form. Yellowish, dingy or bluish-white in 

 ground-colour, much suffused, mottled, and spotted 

 with reddish- and yellowish-brown. The eggs are 

 similar in coloration and variety to those of the 

 Merlin and Kestrel, and, as the nesting situations 

 are similar to those sometimes adopted by the 

 latter bird, nothing short of a sight of the parents 

 can settle the point with certainty. Size about 

 1.7 by 1.35 in. (See Plate V.) 



