. RAPTORES. ACCIPITER. :Jl 



gined with white. Upper parts of the body liver brown, 

 the feathers margined paler. Under parts reddish- white, 

 with long lanceolate streaks of blackish brown, occupy- 

 ing the centres of the feathers. Tail liver-brown, with 

 four bars of blackish-brown ; the tip white. Tarsi and 

 toes lemon-yellow. Claws black. 



White varieties of the Goshawk have been sometimes met 

 with. 



GENUS ACCIPITER, AUCT. SPARROW-HAWK. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill bending from the base, the sides compressed upwards, 

 and forming a rather narrow rounded culmen. Cutting mar- 

 gin of the upper mandible with a very distinct obtuse lobe. 

 Nostrils oval. Wings short; the fourth and fifth feathers 

 longest; the first having the inner web alone notched, or 

 sinuated; the next four with both webs emarginated. Legs 

 with the tarsi long and slender, scutellated in front, with the 

 scales thin and smooth, and closely united to each other. 

 Feet having the toes slender, the middle one longer than the 

 outer by one joint, and exceeding the inner by two. Hind 

 and inner toes of equal length and strength, armed with very 

 strong, hooked, and sharp claws, much longer than those 

 upon the middle and outer toes. 



The Sparrow-Hawks are chiefly distinguished from the 

 birds of the preceding genus by their inferior size, and the 

 greater comparative length and smoothness of their tarsi. 

 In habits and mode of living, a great similarity exists ; and 

 though small, they are equally noted for their courage and 

 audacity. In the various species that belong to the pre- 

 sent genus, the difference of size between the male and fe- 

 male is more than usually marked, of which our own indige- 

 nous bird furnishes a striking example. By CUVIER, the gene- 



