ACCIPITER. 



L>51 



Accipiter madagascariensis, Verr. 



Accipiter madagascariensis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. i. p. 143 (1874) ; 

 Milne-Edwards 8f Grandidier, Hist. Nat. Madag., Ois. i. p. 106 

 (1879); Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 253 (1899). 



The sole egg of the Madagascar Sparrow-Hawk is of a short 

 elliptical form, smooth in texture, without gloss, and of a- very pale 

 bluish- white colour. It measures 1'53 by 1*22. 



1. Madagascar. Crowley Bequest. 



Accipiter rufiventris, Smith. 

 (Plate X. fig. 3.) 



Accipiter rufiventris, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. i. p. 148 (1874) ; id. 

 ed. Layard, Birds S. Africa, p. '22 (1875-84) ; id. Hand-l. i. p. 253 

 (1899). 



The eggs of the African Bed-breasted Sparrow-Hawk are of a broad 

 oval shape, smooth in texture, and without gloss. They are cream- 

 coloured, covered with smears and blotches of umber-brown, which 

 are more or less confluent and form a cap at the smaller end of the egg. 

 Two examples measure respectively : T45 by 1*15 ; 1'47 by 1-2. 



2. South Africa. E. L. Layard, Esq. [P.]. 



Accipiter virgatus (Reinw.). 

 (Plate X. fig. 2.) 



Accipiter virgatus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. i. p. 150 (1874) ; Leage, 

 Birds Ceylon, p. 26 (1878) ; Oates ed. Hume, Nests $ Sags Ind. 'B. 

 iii. p. 124 (1890) ; Blanf. Fauna Brit. Ind., Birds, iii. p. 404 (1895) ; 

 Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 253 (1899) ; Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamml. p. 5 (1899). 



The eggs of the Besra Sparrow-Hawk resemble those of A. nisus- 

 Three specimens are sparingly marked with inky purple and rufous ; 

 three are boldly blotched with chocolate-brown, either at the larger 



.or smaller end ; and a seventh is marked all over with pale purplish- 

 grey and a few darker blotches. They measure from 1*4 to 1*55 in 



length, and from 1-1 to 1*2 in breadth. 



4. Mongphoo, Sikhirn ; 17th May Hume Coll. 



(J. Gammie). 



3. Native Sikhim, 4th June. Hume Coll. 



Accipiter rufotibialis, Sharpe. 



Accipiter rufotibialis, SJiarpe, Ibis. 1889, p. 68: id. Hand-l. i. p. 254 

 (1899). 



The eggs of Whitehead's Sparrow-Hawk in the Collection are of 

 a broad oval form, smooth in texture, and very slightly glossy. They 

 are pale bluish white. One specimen is boldly blotched with rusty 

 brown round the larger end and speckled elsewhere ; the second is 



