SENEGAL SPARROW-HAWK. 119 



equal*. The inner and hind toes are also nearly 

 equal in length, while in ours the hinder toe is 

 much the shortest. The wings, again, are not so 

 much rounded, as the third quill is nearly the same 

 length as the fourth and fifth, and consequently 

 much longer than in A. fringillarius ; in other re- 

 spects, as regards the bill, tarsi, and scales, the two 

 birds quite agree. 



The delicate slate colour on the upper plumage 

 of the male is only a shade lighter than that of the 

 common sparrow-hawk ; it becomes much paler on 

 the ears and sides of the neck, and leaves the chin 

 and half of the throat entirely white ; this white is 

 divided down the middle by a pale but very distinct 

 dusky stripe, which extends for about an inch from 

 the chin. From the lower part of the neck, the 

 ground colour of the plumage becomes of a delicate 

 fawn colour, which changes on the belly, vent, and 

 thighs, to white ; on these latter parts there are no 

 markings, but the breast and body are thickly 

 barred with transverse ferruginous or fawn lines, in 

 the same manner as those on our sparrow-hawk, but 

 closer together and not quite so broad. The quills 

 are blackish, without any external spots, but having 

 the inner web for about half its length fawn white, 

 and banded A'ith black ; these bands, however, can 

 scarcely be seen on the under surface, and then only 

 when the wing is opened. The inner wing-covers 

 are marked with a few bars, wider apart than those 



* This very singular formation does not appear to have 

 been noticed by any writer. 



