186 FALCONID.E. 



Lord Lilford took a nest of the Goshawk, with three eggs 

 (which appears to be the usual number), in the Goto Donana, in 

 April or early in May. 



Above ashy brown ; thin white line above ear-coverts ; below white, 

 thickly barred with ashy brown ; tail ashy brown, with four broad bars of 

 darker brown ; iris yellow. 



Young. Above brown ; below and under wing-coverts light buff, streaked 

 with blackish brown ; tail brown, with five bands of darker brown ; iris 

 pearly white. 



Length : male 19, female 23-24 inches. 



195. Accipiter nisus (Linna3us). The Sparrowhawk. 



Moorish. Bou-umeira takouk (Cuckoo-Kestrel). Spanish. 

 Gavilan, Milano jaspeado (Marbled Kite). 



" Is resident in the vicinity of Tangier, and common during 

 passage in small flights, which pass to Europe during February, 

 March, and April, returning in August and September." 

 Favier. 



The Sparrowhawk is resident in wooded districts near Gibraltar, 

 though not in any great abundance, being most frequent in winter 

 and during migration. Noticed passing the Straits on the 28th 

 of March, and I have dates of nests obtained on the 13th of May, 

 10th of May, and 17th of May in different years, the first two 

 nests containing fresh eggs ; all were in tall trees, in the Cork- 

 wood, near the Mill. Verner took a nest near Second Venta, 

 with four eggs, on 8th May, 1878. 



Toes rather slender ; the middle toe very much longer than the others. 



Adult male. Above slate-blue ; nape mottled with white ; cheeks and 

 ear-coverts bright rufous ; below white, barred with bright rufous ; iris 

 orange. Length 12 inches. 



Female. When very old rarely assumes the same plumage ; the adult 

 females usually have the breast barred with greyish brown, with a reddish 

 patch of downy feathers on the flanks. Much larger than males. Length 

 ]5 inches. 



Young. Above brown ; nape mottled with white ; feathers of back edged 

 with rufous brown ; below white, barred with rufous brown ; iris pale 

 yellow. 



