76 BRITISH BIRDS 
(1) Family: Buteonide. (c) Subfamily: Accipitrine— 
Sparrow-hawks 
153. Sparrow-hawk ([Accipiter mnisus mnisus (Linneeus) 
Stationary in woodland districts. Scarce in N. Scotlan 
Winter visitor on the E. coast. 
Bird. Length 13-153} in., the female being the larger. 
Wing comparatively short (8 in.). Legs long. 
Bill hooked. The male has the upper-parts 
slate-grey, the tail brownish with dusky bars. 
Under-parts mostly whitish or pale buff closely 
barred with dark brown and rufous, or rufous 
only, and on the forebreast and flank tipped 
with rufous. A chestnut tinge on the lower 
sides of the head. The female has the upper- 
parts browner. The lower sides of the head are 
paler than in the case of the male, and streaked 
yi brown. The under-parts whitish, mostly barred 
Fie. 89 with umber-brown. The young are like the 
cacitanee female, but margined rufous on the upper-parts. 
Nest. Usually built of twigs, bark, and some softer 
material on top of an old nest of crow, wood-pigeon, or magpie. 
Eggs. Usually 4-6. Usually bluish-white, sometimes 
blotched with rich chocolate-brown, sometimes with paler 
reddish-brown or purplish. Av. size, 152x1°26 in. Laying 
begins April-May. One brood. 
(2) Family : Falconide 
154. Peregrine-falcon [Falco pergrinus peregrinus Tunstall]. 
Resident. Chiefly frequents hilly districts an 
sea cliffs. 
Bird. Length 15-18 in., the female being 
the larger. Wings comparatively long (14 in.) 
and pointed. Legs short. Cheeks blackish, 
Beak hooked. Upper-parts slate-blue, spotted 
and barred with black. Tail barred dusky, 
tipped white. Under-parts buffish or rufous- 
white, more or less closely barred with black. 
Legs and feet yellow, unfeathered, and reticu- 
lated. Young birds have the upper-parts dusky 
brown, margined buff or rufous, and the 
under-parts striped longitudinally black, not 
barred. 
Nest. Usually on the ledge of a cliff face. Sometimes on 
the ground. A scrape, unlined. 
