122 BRITISH BIRDS. 



170. Astur atrieapillus (Wilson). AMERICAN 



GOS-HAWK. 



Hab. Northern Nearctic region. Partially migratory 

 in winter. 



One example has been killed in Perthshire (1869), a 

 second in Tipperary (1870), and a third in King's Co. (1870). 



GENUS XCII. ACCIPITER, Brisson (1760). 

 Bill with cutting edges of upper mandible festooned, 

 forming a rounded and not very prominent tooth. Tarsus 

 rather long, slender, the lower portion covered with short 

 scales, the rest smooth. Wings short. 



171. Aecipiter nisus (Linn.). SPARROW-HAWK. 

 Hab. Whole Palasarctic region. 



Male : above dark bluish-slate ; wing-quills being 

 nearly black, and tail crossed by several broad bands of 

 black and narrowly tipped with greyish-white ; ear-coverts 

 reddish ; nape mottled with white : below white, barred 

 transversely with pale reddish-brown ; bill bluish-black ; 

 cere, irides and tarsi yellow ; claws black. Length 12*00. 

 Female : rather browner above ; under parts barred with 

 dark brown ; old birds often resemble male except in being 

 considerably larger ; length 14*50. 



Fairly common eveiywhere in woodlands, but rarer in 

 more open country. Nest : always situated in a tree, 

 usually in forks of the main limbs from 20 to 30 feet up ; 

 undoubtedly that of a Crow, Magpie or Ring-dove is often 

 utilized and added to, yet in spite of recent assertions to the 

 contrary ("Ornithologist," May, 1896), I believe that this 

 species more often than not builds its own nest. Eggs: 4 

 to 6 \ bluish-white, handsomely blotchecl with two shades 

 of reddish-brown, often in a zone around larger end ; size 

 I "60 by 1*28. A bold and spirited hunter, often making 



