122 LITTLE RED-BILLED HAWK. 



of the Cape colony. He once found its nest, which 

 was built in the fork of a high tree ; it contained 

 three young birds ready for flight ; there was also 

 an addled egg much soiled, which, upon being 

 washed, was found to be entirely white. The range 

 of this species is therefore established between 

 Southern and Western Africa ; and it is the only 

 one of those Falcons, found by Le Yaillant in the 

 former districts, which we have yet received from 

 the western coast. 



In its general structure it perfectly resembles the 

 goshawk last described, but the bill is considerably 

 larger; and although the tarsi of both are of the 

 same length, the middle toe of this, particularly the 

 first joint, is much longer, and therefore more like 

 that of the common sparrow-hawk. The wings are 

 very short, reaching only, as Le Yaillant well ob- 

 serves, as far as the under tail-covers ; the second 

 and sixth quills are of equal length ; and the third, 

 fourth, and fifth, as in the last species, are the 

 longest and are nearly equal. In size, our speci- 

 men is certainly smaller than the common sparrow- 

 hawk, although Le Yaillant observes that they are 

 of the same size. 



The general colour of the upper plumage is a 

 uniform greyish-brown, except a broad white bar at 

 the base of the tail, and which crosses the last 

 range of the covers ; this is bordered towards the 

 rump by a black bar, which then mingles with 

 the brown of the rump. The under parts, from the 

 chin to a little beyond the breast, are of a light and 



