CLASSIFIED NOTES 533 



breeding in Scandinavia up to the forest limit and in Russia to about the latitude of Archangel. 

 From these limits southward it is found in the wooded districts south to Andalucia in Spain, 

 Italy, Sicily, Greece, and the Caucasus. In Sardinia and apparently Corsica it is replaced by 

 an allied race, and other forms inhabit various districts in Northern Asia and North America. 

 At the present time it can only be considered as a rare vagrant to Great Britain, three Irish 

 records being of doubtful authenticity. [F. c. R. j.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Like the sparrow-hawk, the goshawk uses the old nest of some other 

 species for a foundation, but builds a very substantial nest of its own on the top, composed of 

 sticks and twigs, and often lined with fresh green shoots of spruce or other tree, according to 

 locality. It apparently does not, however, make a fresh nest every year, for Saunders states that 

 the old nest is used year after year, presumably when undisturbed. The share of the sexes in 

 building seems not to have been recorded. The eggs are generally 3 to 5 in number, 

 usually 4 (but Alleon says that seven young have been found in a nest), and I have seen a 

 complete clutch of 2 only. In colour they are bluish white or pale blue, without gloss, often 

 unmarked, but occasionally showing faint rusty spots or streaks. Average size of 50 eggs, 

 2 25 x 1-76 in. [57'2 x 44'9 mm.]. They are laid at intervals of a couple of days, as is usually the 

 case with raptorial birds. Naumann speaks of a three weeks' incubation period, but it probably 

 lasts considerably longer, though accurate information is lacking. The hen seems to perform 

 most if not all of the duty of incubation, though the male may possibly take a small share. 

 Exceptionally eggs may be found in Middle Europe towards the end of March, but more 

 usually in the first half of April, and about the same time in South Europe, while in the 

 north of Europe they are often not laid till May. Only one brood is reared in the season. 

 [F. c. R. j.] 



AMERICAN-GOSHAWK [Accipiter gentilis dtricapittua (Wilson)]. 



1. Description. Differs from the common-goshawk in having the upper parts slate-grey 

 and the whole of the under surface freckled with slate-grey. The sexes are alike, excepting that 

 the female is larger. Length 22 in. [558 mm.]. General colour above bluish ash colour; 

 primary quills blackish brown obscurely barred with black ; tail similar in colour to the back, 

 crossed with four or five indistinct bands of brownish black ; top of head black, separated from 

 the black ear-coverts by a white supercilium ; under surface of body white, evenly freckled all 

 over with slate-grey ; vent and under tail-coverts white. The young resemble that of the pre- 

 ceding species, Accipiter gentilis. [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. A North American species, which is said to have occurred twice in 

 Ireland and once in Scotland, but further evidence as to its presence is desirable. It breeds 

 over the greater part of North America north of the United States northern border, and is 

 replaced by an allied race on the western side from California to Alaska. [F. c. R. J.] 



THE HONEY BUZZARD 1 



[ORDER: Accipitres. SUBORDER : Falcones. FAMILY: Buteonidce. SUBFAMILY: Pernincn] 



HONEY-BUZZARD [Pernia apivorus (Linnaeus). Bee-hawk. French, buae bondrte ; German, 



Wespenbussard ; Italian,/aJco pecchiaiolo]. 



1. Description. Recognised by the extremely dense and short feathering on the lores, in 

 having the tarsus feathered for half its length, and in having the nostrils long, narrow, and 

 oblique. The sexes are alike, excepting that the male bird is rather smaller than the female. 

 Length 23 in. [584 mm.]. The coloration is very variable ; the most common type has the 



1 VoL iv. p. 123. 

 VOL. IV. 3Y 



