34 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE SPARROW-HAWK. 

 (Falco Nisus, Linn. L'Epervier, Temm.) 



THE length of the male is twelve inches ; that of 

 the female fifteen. The bill is blue, furnished with 

 bristles at the base, which overhang the nostrils ; 

 eyes bright orange ; head flat at the top, and above 

 each eye is a strong bony projection, which seems 

 as if intended to secure it from external injury ; 

 from this projection a few scattered spots of white 

 form a faint line running backward towards the 

 neck : the top of the head and all the upper parts 

 are of a dusky brown, tinged with blue ; on the 

 back part of the head there is a faint line of white ; 

 the scapulars are marked with two spots of white 

 on each feather ; the greater quill feathers and the 

 tail are dusky, the latter are marked with four bars 

 of a lighter hue ; the tips white ; the inner webs of 



