LEVANT SPARRO W-1IA WK. 
paring the skins of Mr. Gurney with the plate and description of 
Accipiter sphenurus, in Ruppell's " Systematische Uebersicht der Vogel 
Nord Ost Africas," it became evident that they did not refer to that 
species, as I will shew presently. Mr. Gurney had himself neglected 
to compare the skins with Riippell's description, but fully admitted 
that they could not be the same, and expressed his opinion that the 
species was undescribed. 
In the first edition I endorsed this view, and figured the bird as 
Falco Gurneyi. Further enquiries however have elucidated the fact 
that the bird had previously been described as Micronisus brevipes by 
Severzow. My name will therefore sink. 
The skins sent to me by Mr. Gurney are four in number, — male 
and female adult, and male and female young. From Micronisus 
badius, M. brachydactylus, and M. polyzonoides, they are at once dis- 
tinguished by their greater size and the more marked sexual differences, 
which differences are rendered quite positive when examined more 
closely. I will first give the measurements of the four skins of the 
Levant Sparrow-Hawk compared with the above-mentioned three, as 
well as of Accipiter nisus, to which form they approach more closely 
than the others, and also of Accipiter sphenurus from Riippell's work. 
MEASUREMENT IN INCHES. 
NAME AND MARKS. 
Length. 
Carpus 
to tip of 
Wing. 
Tarsus. 
Tail. 
Middle 
Toe. 
Levant Sparrow-Hawk. 
1. "No. 3, Asia, male adult, Lauretta, Beyrout." 
2. "Syria, female adult, Verreaux, 40939." 
3. "No. 8, young female, Lauretta, Beyrout." 
4. "Male young, Lauretta, Beyrout." 
141 
15* 
13x 3 n 
8| 
3 10 
9 
2 
l- 8 - 
x io 
7 
7 
7 
6* 
If 
If 
H 
il 
Accipiter sphenurus, Ruppell's description. 
"1 
n 
l- 7 - 
Bft 
A. sphenurus, male adult, from Ruppsll's figure. 
lOf 
6# 
11 
x 2 
4| 
A. nisus, male adult, my own. 
" young female, my own. 
12 
151 
7j 
9| 
2 
6| 
81 
A. badius, (from Mr. Gurney.) 
1. "Gould, India, male." Adult. 
2. "Female, India, Puzzudaki, Paris." Adult. 
11 1% 
13| 
7-fo- 
8 
2 
2 
6 
7 
ii 
ii 
M. brachydactj'-lus,* from Mr. Gurney. 
1. "Female, 3326, (3937) Verreaux, adult 
female." 
2. "44423, male young." 
12 
12 
8 
8 
1 7 
L TS 
i l(S 
6 
6 
M. polyzonoides. 
1. From Mr. Gurney. "Male, Elephant's Vley, 
Damara Land." Adult. 
2. "Female, River Obovunga, Damara." Adult. 
10 
11 
H 
n 
1 1 
5 
6 
By glancing over these figures it 
Sparrow-Hawk is in some respects 
* This is only a synonym of M. sphenurus. 
lia« priority. 
will be observed that the Levant 
quite as large, if not larger than 
They are the same birds, and the latter name 
