GOSHAWK. 161 



nal streaks ; on the thighs, the shafts only are 

 dark, broadening gently toward the tips, and on 

 the insides the feathers are spotless ; on the under 

 tail coverts the shaft or marking is only con- 

 spicuous at the tip, where it is of a spatulate form. 



Having now noticed the whole limited number 

 of birds representing the sub-typical family of the 

 Falconidae in Britain, we are about to enter the 

 aberrant group, which exhibits more variation of 

 structure ; but the species of this country which 

 enter into the three sections composing it, are 

 also so few, that it is impossible to detail the 

 minute gradations of form, without the introduc- 

 tion of numerous foreign birds, and we shall 

 simply, therefore', state, that it contains birds of 

 varied form and size, generally less active than 

 those of the two preceding divisions ; the bill 

 more lengthened and never toothed ; the wings 

 of intermediate length, but pointed, and more 

 similar in structure to those of the Falcons, than 

 of the Hawks. The Eagles, Harriers, and Kite 

 like birds have been taken as representing the 

 sub-families. We commence with the 



