147 



ACCIPITRIN^E HAWKS. 



THE sub-typical, or accipitrine section, known 

 popularly as " Hawks," and of which the Gos 

 and Sparrow-hawks are examples, have the form 

 more slender, the bill with the tooth assuming 

 the form of a projecting lobe or festoon ; the 

 wings more rounded and shorter, and when 

 assisted by the ample tail are better adapted for a 

 gliding or flitting progress, than for the rushing 

 flight of the Falcons ; the feet and legs are longer, 

 and less muscular. The habits of the birds con- 

 stituting this group are more decidedly sylvan, 

 wooded countries and extensive forests being 

 their principal haunts. Their breeding places 

 are selected on trees, generally of a large size, 

 and are not often placed on bare and precipitous 

 rocks. 



The eggs in this group are generally of a white 

 or pale ground colour, the markings very decided 

 blotches of deep or rich brown. See pi. II. fig. 3, 



