AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



29 



eggs in a Sparrow-Hawk's nest, and often with 

 specimens in which the brown markings are almost 

 confined to a broad zone near the thick end of the 

 egg. There is often a difference of from o to 4 inches 

 in length between the female and male of this species, 

 the male, according to Yarrell, averaging above 12 

 inches, and the female about three more, but I once 

 shot a female which measured over 16 inches, and, 

 though I have kept no record, am very certain that I 



Sparrow-Hawk with. Thrush.. 



have often handled male birds which would not reach 

 1 1 inches. I have more than once known of instances 

 of this Hawk being taken in traps baited with a hen's 

 egg for Carrion-Crows or Magpies. In this neigh- 

 bourhood we generally have an arrival of migratory 

 Sparrow-Hawks about the end of harvest, but it is 

 difficult to say whether they are bond fide travellers 

 or only natives, who take to the open fields from 



